Illinois Man Charged with Planning Terrorist Attack
An Illinois man has been arrested and charged for planning a terrorist attack on a Rockford, IL shopping mall:
A 22-year-old Rockford man appeared in federal court in Chicago today, charged with plotting to set off hand grenades in a terror attack at a busy Rockford mall during the holiday season.
Derrick Shareef has been charged with attempting to maliciously damage and destroy a building and to use a weapon of mass destruction against persons or property in the U.S., federal authorities said.
During a brief hearing today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez said she had reviewed a financial affidavit submitted by Shareef, and that his financial situation was such that he could be represented by a court-appointed lawyer.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Jake Ryan told the court that Shareef, being held without bond pending a detention hearing on Dec. 20, faces a sentence ranging from five years to life in prison.
According to an FBI affidavit, Shareef met with an undercover federal agent in a Rockford-area parking lot to trade stereo speakers for a handgun and four hand grenades. Shareef allegedly intended to use the weapons at the CherryVale shopping mall at 7200 Harrison Ave., just off the junction of Interstate Highways 90 and 39.
The mall, with about 130 retail stores, was one of several potential targets, which also included courthouses, city hall and several government buildings, the complaint alleges. Sources said there was no imminent threat from the attack, describing it as more of a hopeful plan.
The Smoking Gun posted an FBI affidavit.
I’m really glad the FBI didn’t listen to Sen. Herb Kohl and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and move resources away from terrorism prevention to ordinary law enforcement. They might have only Shareef after his deadly attack.
I’m sad to say that Shareef, while sounding like a total kook, is a smarter terrorist than al Qaeda. Osama bin Laden’s group keeps on trying for the spectacular, the foiled London airplanes plot earlier this year being an example. Attacking targets with lower security like shopping malls and schools would be easier to implement. It would also induce much more public fear. Imagine the cocooning effect if one or two malls where hit? If it happened right now it would ruin the Christmas shopping season possibly sending the country into recession. Michelle Malkin reminds us that another terrorist had the idea of going after shopping malls. Why they haven’t been targeted more I don’t know.
“Rockford Man Charged in Alleged Terror Plot”
“Update: Derrick Shareef: Rockford, Ill Mall Was Alleged Target Of Attack”
“Terrorist Plot Foiled: Mall Attack Planned in Chicago Area”
