Oct 21, 2009 11:19 am US/Eastern
Sudbury Man Arrested On Terrorism Charges
BOSTON (WBZ) ― A man from Sudbury was arrested Wednesday on federal terrorism charges for allegedly planning attacks inside and outside the United States – including a plot to attack people at a mall.
THE ARREST
27-year-old Tarek Mehanna was taken into custody at his home in Fairhaven Circle by federal agents early this morning.
He is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston.
Watch: US Attorney's Announcement
THE ALLEGED PLOTS
Investigators say Mehanna conspired with others over a seven-year period between 2001 and 2008 plotting to "kill, kidnap, maim or injure" people in foreign countries and to kill two members of the Executive Branch.
He and two others allegedly travelled to the Middle East in 2004 to look for military-type training for attacks on U.S. interests.
They also hoped to attack U.S. troops stationed in Iraq.
'SHOOTING PEOPLE AT A MALL'
Prosecutors say Mehanna had "multiple conversations about obtaining automatic weapons and randomly shooting people at a shopping mall."
"The conversations went so far as to discuss the logistics of a mall attack including coordination, weapons needed and the possibility of attacking emergency responders," investigators said in a statement.
"They had discussions regarding how to do it, whether to do it from multiple entrances, what to do when emergency responders arrive," said acting U. S. Attorney Michael Loucks.
The plan was scrapped because the men could only get handguns and not the automatic weapons.
"They determined it was not feasible to go forward," he said.
Prosecutors would not say which malls were targeted.
THE OTHER SUSPECTS
Loucks said Mehanna conspired with two other men: Ahman Abousamra, who authorities say is now in Syria, and an unnamed man, who is cooperating with authorities in the investigation
NO LINK TO OBAMA VISIT
Loucks would not comment on the timing of Mehanna's arrest, but added it's not linked to President Obama's visit to Boston Friday.
Sudbury is an upscale suburb about 20 miles west of Boston.
"It has nothing whatsoever to do with the President's visit," he told reporters at a news conference.
"We don't believe there are any terrorist cells in this area and any active cells that are plotting and planning at this time," said FBI special agent Warren Bamford.
If convicted Mehanna faces 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
MEHANNA'S PAST
He was indicted in January for allegedly making false statements to the FBI in a terrorism investigation.
Mehanna, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in November and charged with lying to the FBI in December 2006 when asked about the whereabouts of Daniel Maldonado, who is now serving a 10-year prison sentence for training alongside al-Qaeda members to overthrow the Somali government.
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