Terror suspect, 17, was arrested at home of Philadelphia defense attorney who sought Democrat nomination for election as court judge, sources claim

A teenage terror suspect charged with attempting to build a weapon of mass destruction was arrested at the home of a Philadelphia defense attorney seeking the Democratic nomination for a judge’s role, sources say.

The 17-year-old, whose name has not been released, was allegedly communicating with a Jordanian affiliate of the Islamic State and planning a “catastrophic terrorist attack” when he was arrested Friday, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office revealed.

Sources linked the arrest to Friday’s FBI raid on Woodbine Avenue, home of Qawi Abdul-Rahman, who unsuccessfully contested this year’s Democratic primary for the Common Pleas Court judge, the court said. Philadelphia investigator And phillymag. com.

Police intervened after US Customs told them that “14 international shipments of military and tactical equipment” had arrived at the seven-bedroom home in the city’s leafy Wynnefield neighborhood.

“Among the items he purchased were tactical equipment, wiring, chemicals and devices commonly used as remote detonators,” FBI agent Jacqueline Maguire said at the news conference.

“Not only had he taken steps to acquire those items and materials commonly used in improvised explosive devices, but he had also taken steps to assemble potential devices.”

The teen has been charged with crimes involving weapons of mass destruction, criminal conspiracy, arson, causing or risking a catastrophe, attempted criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime and reckless endangerment of another person,” prosecutors said.

He has been charged as a minor, but prosecutors are trying to have him tried in an adult court.

“I can’t imagine anyone doing anything illegal or wrong there,” neighbor Paul Lazorko said fox29. com

Abdul-Rahman, 54, was born at Plattsburgh Air Force Base in Plattsburgh, New York, the son of an Air Force officer.

Raised in North Philadelphia, he attended the University of Delaware before transferring to Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

“When Mr. Rahman transferred to Cheyney University, he switched his major to political science because of a newfound ambition to become a lawyer after seeing the injustices inflicted on people in his community,” his campaign website states.

After graduating from Cheyney, he attended St Thomas School of Law in Miami, Florida. After working in Dade County Public Defender’s Office, Mr. Rahman returned to Philadelphia to fulfill a promise he made to himself to serve the people of his community.

“With 25 years of legal experience, Mr. Rahman effectively serves his community and in 2018 received the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Pro Bono Publico Award.”

The biography further describes Rahman as a “loyal son, husband, father and role model.”

“When you are not in court, you can find Mr. Rahman on the football field serving his community as a youth football coach,” it adds.

In a campaign video, the lawyer returns to the home where he grew up and talks to local residents.

“I know exactly what needs to be done when it comes to crime,” he tells the camera.

“Those people who feel marginalized, excused and overlooked, I was those people.”

Abdul-Rahman told phillymag.com he had no comment on the search because it was an “open case.”

Asked if the boy arrested is his son, he told the website, “You want to know what I’m really about?

“Text or call me again and you’ll hear what I’m talking about.”

FBI agents had the boy under surveillance since March this year after intercepting Instagram communications with Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ), a foreign terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda that was delisted last year by the US State Department. Affairs was classified as a foreign terrorist organization.

The group which is also allies of Islamic State has claimed responsibility for international suicide bombings, including a 2017 attack on a subway in St Petersburg, Russia, that killed 14 people.

His WhatsApp account also showed images of the Chechnya-based Riyadh-us-Saliheen Martyrs’ Brigade and the Islamic State, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office.

Investigators said the teen, who also had access to “a fairly large number of firearms,” ​​had taken steps to “travel abroad for the purpose of joining or supporting terrorist activities,” and was investigating possible terrorist targets.

“The young man who was arrested was an aspiring terrorist,” said Larry Krasner, a Philadelphia district attorney.

“He didn’t just think he did things that are very disturbing and a great danger to everyone — to himself, his family, the block where he lives and quite frankly people all over Philadelphia and possibly people all over the country or even beyond.

“The work of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force may have thwarted a catastrophic terrorist attack in the name of a perverted ideology that in no way, shape, or form represents the beliefs of the vast majority of peace-seeking believers, including Muslims.

“The charges we have filed against this individual represent the most serious alleged terrorist activity prosecuted by the Philadelphia County Court in recent memory.

“We intend to hold full accountability for these crimes and will continue to work vigilantly with our law enforcement partners to protect all our communities from hateful, ideologically driven acts of violence.”

Dailymail.com has reached out to Mr. Abdul-Rahman for comment.