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Kansas mosque: Three men accused of plot to bomb Somalis | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Three men have been charged with plotting to bomb Somali immigrants at an apartment building and mosque in the US state of Kansas. | Three men have been charged with plotting to bomb Somali immigrants at an apartment building and mosque in the US state of Kansas. |
Curtis Allen, 49, Gavin Wright, 49, and Patrick Eugene Stein, 47, had gathered firearms and explosives for the attack, according to the US Justice Department. | |
The members of a militia group called the Crusaders also kept watch on the target in Garden City, officials said. | |
They allegedly planned to strike on 9 November, a day after the US elections. | They allegedly planned to strike on 9 November, a day after the US elections. |
The suspects had prepared a manifesto and conspired to detonate a bomb at apartments where Somalis were among some 120 residents, said prosecutors. | The suspects had prepared a manifesto and conspired to detonate a bomb at apartments where Somalis were among some 120 residents, said prosecutors. |
They allegedly discussed parking four explosives-packed vehicles at the corners of the complex to create a large blast in the meatpacking town. | They allegedly discussed parking four explosives-packed vehicles at the corners of the complex to create a large blast in the meatpacking town. |
Mr Stein offered to provide ammonium nitrate for the devices and contribute up to $300 (£246) for other materials, according to prosecutors. | |
If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of life in prison. | |
Acting US Attorney Tom Beall said the eight-month investigation had taken FBI agents "deep into a hidden culture of hatred and violence". | Acting US Attorney Tom Beall said the eight-month investigation had taken FBI agents "deep into a hidden culture of hatred and violence". |
A confidential source attended meetings of the militia group to collect information, according to documents. | |
In one of those gatherings, papers said, there was a proposal to carry out an attack similar to the Orlando nightclub shooting. | |
Mr Beall said they ultimately decided to attack the building because of the number of Somalis who lived there. | |
Friday's charges prompted the Council on American-Islamic Relations to urge law enforcement to boost protection for US mosques. | Friday's charges prompted the Council on American-Islamic Relations to urge law enforcement to boost protection for US mosques. |
"We ask our nation's political leaders, and particularly political candidates, to reject the growing Islamophobia in our nation," Nihad Awad, the group's national executive director, said in a statement. | "We ask our nation's political leaders, and particularly political candidates, to reject the growing Islamophobia in our nation," Nihad Awad, the group's national executive director, said in a statement. |