Overview
On Thursday, November 29, Pakistani brothers Raees Qazi (20) and Sheheryar Qazi (30) were arrested on charges of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction. The pair was arrested in south Florida and they are currently being held at the Broward County Jail. The two were arraigned this morning in Fort Lauderdale Federal Court.
Federal authorities report that the men were plotting to use a large-scale weapon of mass destruction. The specific type of weapon, target, and details of the plot have yet to be released. According to the United States attorney, the case was built on government surveillance of phone conversations between the brothers and foreign contacts.
Key Points
- Raees Qazi and Sheheryar Qazi are both naturalized U.S. citizens of Pakistani origin
- It is unclear if the brothers were affiliated with a specific terrorist organization
- The suspects’ family denies their involvement in the terror plot
Implications
During today’s arraignment, it was stated that the men were plotting to target locations in New York City. However, the exact targets remain unknown. The details regarding the type of weapon(s) are also vague; currently it is being described as a destructive device. Based on our assessment that terrorists often attempt to draw on past successes to plan future attacks, there is a possibility that they were plotting an isolated or combined tactics attack, including both explosives and firearms. Additionally, terrorist groups have previously focused on iconic structures, financial institutions and tourist areas to allow for maximum impact.
This case highlights the continued threat from homegrown extremists as the brothers had been residing in the United States for at least 15 years. Individuals who are either US citizens or legal residents are equipped with knowledge of American culture and the English language which may provide tactical advantage over foreign terrorists trying to enter the U.S. from abroad.