Juvenile Faces Adult Charges in Collaborative FBI Terrorism Probe, Says Philly DA
A 17-year-old resident of West Philadelphia is facing adult charges, including arson and weapons of mass destruction, following an investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and Philadelphia Police Department. The teenager, who has not been named, was in contact with the designated terrorist group Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad and the Chechnya-based terrorist group Riyad-us-Saliheen Martyrs’ Brigade. He allegedly contacted these groups through social media platforms and purchased materials to build improvised explosive devices (IEDs). US Customs and Border Protection provided investigators with records of shipments of military and tactical gear being sent to the teenager’s home. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said that the arrest potentially thwarted a catastrophic terrorist attack. The teenager is facing charges of weapons of mass destruction, criminal conspiracy, arson, and recklessly endangering another person. If the case is transferred to an adult court, more information will be made public. District Attorney Krasner warned parents to be vigilant about the threat of self-radicalization by young people through the internet.
