Terror suspect Amine El Khalifi arrested near U.S. Capitol in bomb plot sting

[MuffyBee]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-terror-suspect-arrested-near-capitol-in-bomb-plot-sting-20120217,0,554362.story
Terror suspect arrested near U.S. Capitol in bomb plot sting
By Richard Serrano
February 17, 2012

Reporting from Washington—

An unidentified man wearing what he thought was a suicide vest packed with explosives was arrested near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington by FBI agents who had been closely monitoring him in an undercover sting operation, officials announced Friday.

“I can confirm there is an arrest of a suspect in Washington D.C. in connection with a terrorism  investigation,” said Bill Carter, a spokesman at FBI headquarters.
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[MuffyBee]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57380422/fbi-arrests-would-be-capitol-bomber-outside-d.c/
FBI arrests would-be Capitol bomber outside D.C.
February 17, 2012

A 29-year-old Moroccan man who authorities say wanted to be the first suicide bomber on U.S. soil was arrested Friday after strapping on what he thought was an explosive vest and headed for the U.S. Capitol, CBS News' John Miller reports.

A Capitol Hill source identified the suspect as Amine El Khalifi, a Moroccan citizen who has lived in the United States for more than 12 years. He was taken down by FBI agents in Alexandria, Va., outside Washington. An intelligence source confirmed the suspect's name to CBS News.

Last December, he allegedly told an undercover law enforcement officer that he planned to detonate a bomb at an Alexandria building that contained offices for the U.S. military, the Capitol Hill source said. His plans changed until he settled on the Capitol.

A high ranking source told CBS News the man was "never a real threat."

The explosives in the vest that was provided to him by undercover agents were rendered inoperable by authorities.
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[MuffyBee]

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/22/justice/dc-capitol-bomb-plot/
Man charged in U.S. Capitol bomb plot to remain jailed
By Carol Cratty, CNN
February 23, 2012

Alexandria, Virginia (CNN) -- A Moroccan man charged with plotting a suicide bomb attack on the U.S. Capitol will remain in jail, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

Amine El Khalifi made a brief appearance in federal court and waived his right to have a preliminary hearing and to contest his detention.

Magistrate Judge John Anderson said there are no conditions under which El Khalifi should be released at this time both because of the seriousness of the charge against him and because the defendant is in the U.S. illegally. Khalifi, wearing a green jail jumpsuit, spoke only to confirm to the judge he had talked with his federal public defender and did not want a preliminary hearing.
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