Documents reveal more details about Georgia man arrested for terror plot
ATLANTA (FOX 5 ATLANTA) - Newly obtained documents are shedding more light on the Georgia man accused by FBI of a terror plot against the White House and several U.S. landmarks so he could become a martyr.
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Officials said, Hasher Jallal Taheb, 21, of Cumming, Georgia, allegedly had intentions of attacking federal buildings in Washington, D.C. including the White House. Federal prosecutors said he wanted to blow up the White House and Lincoln Memorial as well as the Statue of Liberty.
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According to U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak, all potential threats are under control and the upcoming Super Bowl in Atlanta was not a target of the attacks.
Authorities said they began an investigation into Taheb after being tipped off by someone in the community. Last March, a member of the community told area law enforcement Taheb had become radicalized. Undercover agents stayed in contact with him from August through December.
Wednesday, when Taheb allegedly arranged to get his hands on the arsenal, the FBI swooped in and made the arrest. He was arrested at a Buford store parking lot where agents said he went to exchange his car for guns and explosives.
Taheb has been charged with attempt to damage by means of an explosive any building owned, possessed, or leased by the united states.
Investigators said it is believed Taheb was acting alone.
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This is not the first time Taheb has been in trouble with the law. Documents obtained by FOX 5 News from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office show two incidents in 2014 and 2015.
In November 2014 records show Taheb got into trouble for reckless driving and a confrontation with a resident in the Saddlebrook neighborhood where he lives.
The HOA board member George Biscan remember the incident.
“He was speeding. He wouldn’t stop at the stop sign so the neighbor got out there and told him to slow down,” said Biscan.
In March 2015 a police report shows Taheb and another teenager were busted with marijuana in a riser hallway attached to this subway restaurant in Cumming.
Biscan understands Taheb’s troubles as a teenager with pot and fast driving but he can’t fathom how Taheb transitioned to a potential terrorist.
“Teenagers drive fast. I drive fast you know, but to go from that to this, that’s a big leap.
Dr. Weeda Mehran, a terrorism expert at Georgia State University said propaganda is easily available.
“These groups try to portray attacks as easy, something that can be done by individuals,” said Dr. Mehran.
Dr. Weeda Mehran analyzes propaganda by different terrorists such as ISIS as part of an international group working through Georgia State University.
She studied the indictment of Taheb which states he created a group chat on a social media messaging platform. And that he had listened to speeches from a noted terrorist.
“A lot of radicalizing material is available online and easy to access,” said Dr. Mehran.
Ultimately the social networking connected Taheb to undercover agents who foiled his apparent terrorist plot to blow up the White House and other American landmarks.
Dr. Mehran said those targets are significant in themselves.
“Terrorist groups are known to try to identify targets which have symbolic meanings and that is an essential part of Terrorism in general,” said Dr. Mehran.
FOX 5 News stopped by the home of Taheb. Even though someone was home, no one came to the door.
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