ISIS Bomb Plot Against Pittsburgh Church Foiled by FBI
by Jordan Hilger, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – A 21-year-old Syrian refugee from Pittsburgh was arrested on a federal complaint Wednesday, after discussions with undercover FBI officials uncovered a plot to bomb a North Pittsburgh church in the name of ISIS.
Mustafa Mousab Alowemer was charged with one count of lending material support to ISIS, and two counts of distributing explosive-related information with an eye to bombing a Christian church.
Details of the plot were fleshed out by undercover investigators who said Alowemer wanted to hide two backpacks, one in the church with a bomb large enough to send shockwaves throughout the surrounding neighborhood, and one carefully designed to detonate as police arrived.
If they survived, Alowemer’s plot slated police to discover a planted ISIS flag with a note that read “We’ve arrived.”
“I am grateful nothing did happen and I’m grateful that we are able to show that God covered us,” said Pastor Michael Day of Legacy International Worship Center, the targeted church.
The discovery of the plot and the suspect’s arrest were announced by FBI counterterrorism officials and U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady for the Western District of Pennsylvania, who lauded the work of FBI Undercover Employees (UCEs) in the case.
“While the public does not always see the results of the hard work of these dedicated men and women, this case is a visible demonstration of our commitment to rooting out terrorists and bringing them to justice,” said Brady.
Alowemer was admitted as a refugee to the United States on August 1st, 2016, and awaits a detention hearing on Friday.