TAMPA – A Tampa man has been captured and blamed for plotting an assault for the benefit of ISIS, as per the U.S. Branch of Justice.
FBI operators captured Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari, 23, of Tampa, on Sunday (May 24), after he claimed weapons to be utilized in an assault. Al-Azhari was accused of endeavoring to offer material help or assets to an assigned outside fear based oppressor association, to be specific, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. Whenever sentenced, Al-Azhari faces a most extreme punishment of 20 years in government jail.
“We are appreciative for the fast work of our accomplices at the FBI to catch Al-Azhari before he could complete his assault,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “This case shows the division’s pledge to stand cautious against the danger of psychological oppression and rough radicalism in the entirety of its structures.”
U.S. Lawyer Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of Florida stated, “We are appreciative for the difficult work and quick activity by our law requirement accomplices and concerned residents during this examination. Their coordination and collaboration in this issue permitted us to intrude on a genuine danger, without mischief to anybody.”
Said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael F. McPherson: “The essential strategic the FBI is to shield the American open from a psychological militant assault. The present declaration of the capture of Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azahari is evidence we are focused on that vow. I laud the 18 government, state, and nearby part organizations who involve FBI Tampa’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for working day and night to forestall the death toll in the Tampa Bay people group. We were additionally blessed to pick up the participation of different residents who energetically and boldly gave their help during this examination. This solid bond between law authorization and people in general permitted us to upset this danger.”
As per the objection, Al-Azhari was an ISIS supporter who arranged and attempted to do an assault in the interest of that psychological oppressor association.
Al-Azhari, who has a criminal history that incorporates earlier psychological warfare charges in Saudi Arabia, attempted to purchase different guns through the span of the examination, before getting a Glock gun and a silencer.
He likewise communicated reverence for Pulse dance club shooter Omar Mateen and discussed his longing to complete a comparable mass loss shooting.
Furthermore, Al-Azhari inquired about and explored potential focuses in the Tampa territory, including Honeymoon Island. He likewise practiced parts of an assault and the explanations that he would make during or regarding such an assault, government authorities said.
A protest is just a conventional charge that a litigant has carried out at least one infringement of government criminal law, and each respondent is assumed honest except if, and until, demonstrated liable.
“Mr. Al-Azhari’s endeavor to get guns through unlawful channels to his craving to offer material help to an assigned remote psychological militant association, it was clear Mr. Al-Azhari’s aim was to do a demonstration of viciousness,” said Assistant Director Jill Sanborn of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Forces the nation over will keep on utilizing the entirety of their lawful specialists to forestall a potential demonstration of fear based oppression in the United States, and somewhere else.”
