Philadelphia teen plotted terror attack with Al-Qaeda affiliate

Authorities have arrested a Philadelphia teenager, whom they say had access to firearms, was building a bomb, and had begun coordinating a terrorist attack with an Al-Qaeda affiliate organization.

The unnamed 17-year-old was allegedly working with Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, Fox News reported. The State Department labeled the group a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization in 2022. It primarily operates in Syria, but has been identified as the culprit behind terror attacks in Russia and Kyrgyzstan as well.

Authorities detained him on Friday in an operation that saw armored vehicles and group of law enforcement officials descend upon his home. They did not clarify the nature of the operation for several days.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire stated during a Monday press conference that the individual was preparing to send explosive devices to myriad targets, including some outside of the city.

“Most concerning was the evidence to his access to firearms and was purchasing items and materials commonly for constructing improvised explosive devices,” he added. “Among the items he purchased were tactical equipment, wiring, chemicals and devices often used as the detonators.”

Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad operates out of the Idlib province, an area that has managed to stave off incursions from Bashar Al-Assad’s Damascus-based government amid the years-long Syrian Civil War.

Source: justthenews