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| IS sympathizer plotted to bomb universities, FBI says | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The son of Boston police captain has been accused of planning to set off pressure-cooker bombs at universities. | The son of Boston police captain has been accused of planning to set off pressure-cooker bombs at universities. |
| Alexander Ciccolo, 23, has had history of mental illness and had recently become "obsessed with Islam," an acquaintance told the FBI. | Alexander Ciccolo, 23, has had history of mental illness and had recently become "obsessed with Islam," an acquaintance told the FBI. |
| In Mr Ciccolo's apartment FBI agents found a pressure cooker, chemicals and "attack planning papers". | In Mr Ciccolo's apartment FBI agents found a pressure cooker, chemicals and "attack planning papers". |
| Pressure-cooker bombs were used in the Boston marathon bombings that left three dead and dozen hurt. | Pressure-cooker bombs were used in the Boston marathon bombings that left three dead and dozen hurt. |
| According to court records, Mr Ciccolo told the acquaintance he was "not afraid to die for the cause" and called Americans "disgusting". | According to court records, Mr Ciccolo told the acquaintance he was "not afraid to die for the cause" and called Americans "disgusting". |
| Mr Ciccolo came the FBI's attention after a Facebook profile connected to him praised Islamic State (IS) militants and he wrote that he wanted to fight for the group. He also posted a picture of a dead American soldier and thanked the Islamic State, writing "now we don't have to deal with these kafir [non-believers] back in America." | |
| An FBI informant later talked with Mr Ciccolo and learned he planned to carry out attacks on behalf of IS in multiple US states. He eventually decided to target universities, the FBI said. | An FBI informant later talked with Mr Ciccolo and learned he planned to carry out attacks on behalf of IS in multiple US states. He eventually decided to target universities, the FBI said. |
| Mr Ciccolo had purchased bomb making materials, but also sought to acquire to guns to carry out his attack, the FBI said. Agents arrested Mr Ciccolo on 4 July after he tried to buy weapons from the informant. | Mr Ciccolo had purchased bomb making materials, but also sought to acquire to guns to carry out his attack, the FBI said. Agents arrested Mr Ciccolo on 4 July after he tried to buy weapons from the informant. |
| "The defendant ordered and took delivery of four firearms ... to use during his plan to kill innocent people," the Department of Justice said in a statement. | "The defendant ordered and took delivery of four firearms ... to use during his plan to kill innocent people," the Department of Justice said in a statement. |
| 'Danger to the community' | |
| After obtaining the pressure cooker, he posted on Facebook about it, saying he had made 10 firebombs. | |
| After Mr Ciccolo was arrested, he stabbed a nurse with a pen during a medical screening, leaving a bloody hole in her skin and breaking the pen in half. | |
| He continued to pledge his support for IS while speaking to FBI agents. | |
| Mr Ciccolo's father is Boston police captain Robert Ciccolo. | |
| "While we were saddened and disappointed to learn of our son's intentions, we are grateful that authorities were able to prevent any loss of life or harm to others," the Ciccolo family said in a statement. | |
| The US Attorney General's office wants to keep Mr Ciccolo detained until his trial and called him a "danger to the community." |