Teen convicted of working with extremist groups to carry out terrorist attacks in Philadelphia area
By Tom Dougherty
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PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A teenager has been convicted of working with extremist groups in Syria with the intent of carrying out terrorist attacks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, specifically targeting the Philly Pride Parade, the Army-Navy game and other events in the city.
Muhyyee-Ud-din Abdul-Rahman, 19, was found guilty in a jury trial on Wednesday of attempting to possess weapons of mass destruction and risking a catastrophe, among other charges, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced in a press conference.
“The evidence in the case indicated that a Philadelphian, 17 years of age, in our opinion, self-radicalized or was radicalized, and wanted to be a bomb maker for terrorists,” Krasner said. “His desire to be a bomb maker for terrorists resulted in multiple tests of actual bombs. Resulted in a search for potential targets for what we believe was a terrorist bombing in the Philadelphia area and within the United States.”
Abdul-Rahman plotted to attack events in Philadelphia, including the city’s Pride parade and the Army-Navy football game, a Black university, the Valley Forge Military Academy in Delaware County and nuclear power plants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Krasner’s office said in a news release.
Abdul-Rahman was arrested in August 2023 when he was 17. Announcing Abdul-Rahman’s arrest, Krasner called the teen “an aspiring terrorist.”
Law enforcement said Abdul-Rahman had communicated with Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, or KTJ, and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which are designated global terrorism groups by the U.S. government.
First Assistant District Attorney Robert Listenbee said Wednesday that the teen acquired a passport and planned on going to Syria, never to return to the U.S.
“He said he was not planning to target any place in the United States, but every indication that we have was that he was,” Listenbee said.
The teen sent and received media containing terrorism propaganda and guidance on committing criminal attacks, including how to make a bomb, the FBI previously said.
“The specific type of bombs that he was in the process of creating included TATP, which is one of the most volatile and destructive weapons imaginable,” Listenbee said.
Listenbee said Abdul-Rahman attempted to make a TATP in his backyard but “didn’t get the ingredients right.” The assistant first district attorney added that Abdul-Rahman had between 12 and 20 attempts of trying to make bombs.
Investigators found that Abdul-Rahman was searching online for potential targets in the Philadelphia area and evidence of hatred for the LGBTQ+ community, prosecutors said. Listenbee and Krasner said Wednesday there were 8,000 searches.
“This individual had a grievance, a grievance against homosexuality. He asked the questions in one of his searches, ‘What is the punishment for homosexuality in Sharia Law?’ Which is the Muslim law, as I understand it,” Listenbee said. “He then also indicated in a statement that he felt that the homosexual agenda in the United States was too extensive, along with some of the conservative agendas of the Proud Boys and others. He indicated all along that he wanted to become a bomber, no question about it.”
Customs and Border Protection records showed 14 international shipments of military and tactical gear shipped to the teen’s West Philadelphia address.
Prosecutors said Abdul-Rahman was being held on $5 million bond. Krasner said prosecutors will be back in court Wednesday afternoon to determine Abdul-Rahman’s bail status.
Stephanie Ballesteros and Dan Snyder contributed to this report.
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