An American youth was planning another incident like the infamous 9/11 in the United States. He was later arrested. Anas Saeed (28), a resident of Houston, Texas, has been charged with attempting to support Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists, the US Department of Justice said on Thursday.
This information is known from the report of the American broadcaster CNN. Local law enforcement officials said Saeed admitted to planning a terrorist attack from his Houston apartment. Texas Southern District Attorney Alamdar Hamdani said at a press conference that Said, who was born in the United States, spent his childhood in Lebanon. He later returned to the United States at the age of 14.
The US intelligence agency FBI arrested Saeed last week. Since 2017, he has been under the surveillance of the Houston Joint Terrorist Task Force. When FBI agents arrested him, Syed threw his phone on the ground and broke into a scuffle. At one stage he had to be held down.
Saeed's other electronic devices were found to contain pro-ISIS images and messages and information about his involvement in the terrorist organization's propaganda activities. Alamdar Hamdani said that Saeed used to make and edit various propaganda videos.
The FBI said that after years of surveillance, Saeed's behavior had gradually turned toward violence. Especially after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. FBI Special Agent Douglas Williams Jr. said Saeed confessed to planning the mass murder using explosives in Houston.
The FBI agent added, “Sayed offered his home as a safe haven for ISIS members and bragged that he would launch a 9/11-style attack if he got the necessary resources.”
Williams also said Saeed expressed his desire to join the U.S. military and commit acts of terrorism. According to court documents, Saeed told a confidential FBI source that he would use a suicide bomb. Said told the agent, 'If I wanted, it would have been very easy. I would shave my beard, cut my hair, put on a military uniform, go in and press the button. Everyone would have turned into grilled meat.'
Court documents also state that Saeed wanted to harbor ISIS members for a planned assassination attempt at his home. The group attempted to assassinate former US President George W. Bush.
