FBI Foils Al-Qaeda Attack Planned on July 4

Local Editor

The Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] on Monday revealed that it arrested a self-professed supporter of Al-Qaeda who had been planning a bomb attack targeting US service members and their families at a July 4 parade in Cleveland, Ohio.

The FBI identified the suspect as Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts, who also used the name Abdur Raheem Rafeeq, and said he had told an undercover agent that he wanted to load up a van or other vehicles with explosives during the US Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday.

"His desire: to kill military personnel and their families," said FBI Special agent in charge Steve Anthony.

FBI and Justice Department officials said Pitts, a US native with "an extensive criminal history", was arrested Sunday after discussing how to carry out the attack with the undercover agent.

They had been watching him for months after he made statements in support of Al-Qaeda and expressed "violent intentions" against groups including the US armed forces, Anthony said.

They said he was focused on the possible locations of an attack and that it was not clear whether he had the ability himself to acquire or build bombs.

Officials also said it was not clear if Pitts had a network inside the United States or abroad.

Pitts was charged with attempting to provide support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team