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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Terror suspect arrested in Boston | Terror suspect arrested in Boston |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man has been charged with terrorism-related offences that include plotting to kill people in a US shopping mall, the US Justice Department says. | |
| Tarek Mehanna, 27, was held in Sudbury, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, and charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. | |
| He is also accused of conspiring to kill people overseas, and of seeking terrorist training in the Middle East. | |
| At least two other co-conspirators were involved, officials said. | At least two other co-conspirators were involved, officials said. |
| 'Violent jihad' | |
| Detailing the charge against Mr Mehanna, US prosecutors accused him and his alleged co-conspirators of discussing how two obtain automatic weapons before "randomly shooting people in a shopping mall". | |
| They allegedly discussed "the logistics of a mall attack, including co-ordination, weapons needed and the possibility of attacking emergency responders," acting US Attorney Michael Loucks said. | |
| They would talk about fighting jihad and their desire to die on the battlefield FBI statement | |
| However, the plan was eventually abandoned, prosecutors said, allegedly because they could not get hold of the necessary weapons. | |
| The charge alleges that from about 2001 to May 2008, Mr Mehanna conspired with others, plotting to provide material support and resources for use in carrying out a conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim or injure persons or damage property in a foreign country and the killing of a US national outside the US. | |
| "They discussed their desire to participate in violent jihad against American interests and that they would talk about fighting jihad and their desire to die on the battlefield," the FBI said. | |
| They allegedly attempted to radicalise others by watching and distributing jihadi videos. | |
| Mr Mehanna and two of his associates also allegedly travelled to the Middle East in February 2004 to attend a terrorist training camp with the aim of fighting US and allied forces in Iraq. |