Philadelphia teen hoped to make bombs for terror group and thought of Pleasure assault, officers say

Legislation enforcement officers in Philadelphia on Wednesday supplied an replace to a case involving a teen boy who, officials claim, communicated with a group affiliated with Al-Qaeda and allegedly bought supplies on-line in an effort to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

Throughout an occasion on Wednesday morning, First Assistant District Lawyer Robert Listenbee stated Muhyyee-ud-din Abdul-Rahman, 18, of West Philadelphia, not solely had bomb-making supplies, that have been discovered within the trash at his house, he had examined bombs within the woods behind his house and had possible thought of an assault on Philly’s LGBTQ neighborhood.

Again in August of final yr, Abdul-Rahman was arrested and charged in an ongoing terrorism investigation following an FBI raid at a house alongside Woodbine Avenue.

However, on Wednesday, Listenbee stated, Abdul-Rahman had not solely made bombs, however he had thought of putting bombs in trashcans alongside the route of final yr’s Philadelphia Pleasure March and supposed to maneuver to Syria within the hopes of changing into a bomb-maker for a terrorist group.

“The defendant, who had a scholarship to attend faculty as a wrestler, determined that he wished to change into a bomb-maker,” stated Listenbee. “He wished to depart America and go to Syria an be part of a terrorist group. He developed bombs in his house and examined these bombs twelve to twenty instances in his again yard and within the woods close by.”

He’s additionally accused of speaking with Khatiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, or KTJ — a worldwide terrorist group that’s affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

In detailing how far Abdul-Rahman was keen to go to realize his targets, Listenbee stated that he was able to throw away all the pieces with a purpose to change into a bomb-maker for KTJ, a bunch that Listenbee stated is taken into account a worldwide terrorist group.

“He was prepared to depart his household, his pals, his college and his wrestling staff. He had no intention of going to varsity in the US,” stated Listenbee.

He had obtained his passport, Listenbee stated, and on the time of his arrest, he was present in possession of tactical gear, uniforms, radios, knives, and different navy objects that he supposed to carry to Syria.

Additionally seized at the moment, Listenbee stated, have been two telephones, and on them, he claims officers found “scary searches” together with centered searches on the Philadelphia Pleasure March.

Listenbee stated that these searches included the situation and schedule of the parade, together with details about making “garbage can bombs” and the places of trashcans alongside the route of the parade.

“He was at the least contemplating focusing on the LGBT neighborhood and the Pleasure parade,” Listenbee stated. “That didn’t occur, however, at the least, it was essential so far as we have been involved that we acknowledge that that was one of many intense searches that occurred.”

In an interview with legislation enforcement officers, Listenbee stated Abdul-Rahman was upset about homosexuality and the way it was “pressed upon youngsters in the US.”

Together with these searches, Listenbee stated officers discovered searches for nuclear energy station places throughout the area, army-navy soccer video games and the parade, together with particulars about Fort Bragg and the Pentagon, in addition to 40 different navy bases and entities.

Yesterday, Listenbee stated a choose dominated that Abdul-Rahman wouldn’t be amenable to therapy within the juvenile justice system and he’ll as a substitute be charged as an grownup.

He has been in custody since his arrest final yr and his bail has been set at $5 million.

Listenbee stated that, at the moment, nobody else within the house Abdul-Rahman lived in along with his household, are alleged to have been part of — and have been possible not conscious of — the alleged actions that led to those fees.

He has been charged with weapons of mass destruction, legal conspiracy, arson and associated offenses.

Officers stated Abdul-Rahman has not entered a plea.

NBC10 reached out to his household to see if he had an legal professional however was unable to achieve them for remark.