Ex-US Marine's planned terror attack for Christmas Day foiled

[Shahzaz ud din]

Ex-US Marine's planned terror attack for Christmas Day foiled
AFPDecember 23, 2017
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Tow truck driver Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, was planning to target San Francisco's busy Pier 39 tourist spot. Photo — AFP

Federal agents arrested a former US Marine on Friday for allegedly plotting a Christmas attack in San Francisco inspired by the Islamic State jihadist group, according to court documents.

Tow truck driver Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, was planning to target the city's busy Pier 39 tourist spot, according to an affidavit submitted by FBI Special Agent Christopher McKinney.

The suspect is said to have outlined to undercover agents how he wanted to use explosives to target crowds at the pier between December 18 and 25 because “Christmas was the perfect day to commit the attack.”

Jameson professed not to need an escape plan as he was “ready to die,” according to the document.

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The suspect's home in Modesto, California, was raided by FBI agents on Wednesday, where they allegedly found his last will and testament along with weapons and ammunition.

Jameson attended basic training with the Marine Corps in 2009 and graduated with a “sharpshooter” rifle qualification, according to the FBI, but was discharged after failing to disclose a history of asthma.

According to McKinney, Jameson selected Pier 39 — which gets around 10 million visitors a year — because “he had been there before and knew it was a heavily crowded area.”

“Jameson explained that he also desired to use explosives and described a plan in which explosives could 'tunnel' or 'funnel' people into a location where Jameson could inflict casualties,” McKinney stated.

The suspect inadvertently revealed his plans to an undercover FBI agent he believed to be a senior leader of the Islamic State group (IS), according to the court document.

Jameson said the US needed “another attack like New York or San Bernardino,” adding that he wanted to use vehicles and firearms to carry out an attack.

“Today, our incredible law enforcement officers have once again helped thwart an alleged plot to kill Americans,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

“The threat from radical Islamic terrorism is real — and it is serious — but the American people can be assured that the Department of Justice remains vigilant in protecting our homeland,” he added.

According to the criminal complaint, Jameson “has espoused radical jihadi beliefs, including authoring social media posts that are supportive of terrorism.”

He had voiced support for the October 31 attack in New York in which a jihadist drove a pick-up truck into a crowded bike path, killing eight people, said the FBI, and was active on Facebook, “liking” pro-IS posts.

He “loved” a post on November 29 of a propaganda image of Santa Claus standing in New York with a box of dynamite.

Jameson was charged in the Eastern District Court of California with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

“He was under surveillance by law enforcement, and the public was never in imminent danger,” the FBI said in a statement.

Local newspaper the Merced Sun Star published a video interview with a man it identified as the suspect's father, Gordon Jameson, who described his son as a “the gentle, kind type of Muslim person” and said the FBI had got its facts wrong.

“I don't know too much about the case because the FBI isn't saying much to me but I know my son wouldn't harm nobody. He wouldn't do that to innocent people,” he said. “I love him to death and I can't wait to see him again and hold him in my arms.”

The Sacramento Bee quoted the grandfather of Jameson's ex-wife Ashley Monett Jameson, who told the paper the couple have two young children.

Ashley Jameson is in prison, according to the paper, which added that the children were in foster care, citing a restraining order that it said had been filed by the suspect.

Hours after his arrest it emerged that Jameson had written to his local newspaper, the Modesto Bee, when he was 16, offering his backing for US troops remaining in Iraq following the conflict that began in 2003.

“I don't know what you were taught, but I was raised to finish something you start, and guess what? It's not finished yet,” he wrote.

 

[Path-Finder]

it's Mental Health issues

 

[YeBeWarned]

Glad that he got caught before committing crimes

 

[Śakra]

White Muslim. Media is confused, was he a terrorist or mentally ill?

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

White Muslim. Media is confused, was he a terrorist or mentally ill?

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/12/22/fbi-pier-39-christmas-day-terror-plot-arrest/

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — A former U.S. Marine from Northern California has been arrested for allegedly offering to carry out a terrorist attack on Christmas Day in San Francisco at the Pier 39 tourist attraction.

FBI agents arrested 26-year-old Everitt Aaron Jameson in Modesto on Friday morning, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Jameson appeared in a federal court in Fresno Friday afternoon. His public defender, Eric Kersten, denied the allegations but did not enter a plea. Jameson was described as stoic and mostly silent during Friday’s proceedings, only occasionally speaking privately with Kersten.

According to the criminal complaint unsealed Friday, Jameson “has espoused radical jihadi beliefs, including authoring social media posts that are supportive of terrorism, communicating with people he believes share his jihadi views and offering to provide services to such people …”

Jameson allegedly detailed his plans for the terror attack with an undercover FBI agent whom he believed was associated with the senior leadership of ISIS. The alleged plot involved setting off explosives remotely in one area of Pier 39 and then mowing people down with automatic rifle fire as they fled.

From the FBI complaint:

Jameson specifically named Pier 39 in San Francisco as a target location because he had been there before and knew that it was a heavily crowded area, and that, according to Jameson, no reconnaissance or site survey would be necessary (because Jameson already was familiar with the area). Jameson explained that he also desired to use explosives, and described a plan in which explosives could “tunnel” or “funnel” people into a location where Jameson could inflict casualties.

• Download the full complaint (.pdf)

The complaint said Jameson suggested to the undercover agent that Christmas Day would be a “perfect day” for an attack. Jameson also told the agent “he did not have and did not need an escape plan because he was ready to die.”

The plot seemed to unravel earlier this week. Jameson told the agent that he had second thoughts about carrying out his plan, but agents had enough evidence to search his Modesto home, according to the complaint.

Rifles, a handgun and ammunition were also found during the search of his home.

During the search, FBI agents interviewed Jameson, who observed,

At periodic times during that interview Jameson state his support of ISIS and terrorism and discussed aspects of the plan to carry out an attack, noting that he would be happy if an attack was carried out.

Agents said a suicide note written by Jameson was also found at the home, which took credit for what was to be the Pier 39 attack. The note read, “You all have brought this upon yourselves,” and denounced this week’s announcement by President Donald Trump that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Jameson graduated from basic recruit training in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2009 and earning the “sharpshooter” rifle qualification. He was later discharged for “fraudulent enlistment” after he failed to disclose a latent asthma history, according to the complaint.

Jameson is a Modesto resident who recently took a job as a tow truck driver. The Islamic Center of Merced told KPIX he attended their facility and was a recent convert to Islam.

San Francisco acting mayor London Breed in a statement said while there were no known additional threats related to the investigation, the police department would be increasing its presence in the city as the FBI investigation continued.

“I am incredibly thankful for the efforts and commitment of our public safety officials during this time,” said Breed. “San Francisco is a city that proudly champions democracy, freedom and liberty. Sadly, that makes our home a target. We will not allow the thwarted attempts of one dangerous individual to disrupt our way of life. We will remain vigilant and continue to protect our city from any threat.”

Attorney General Jeff Sessions thanked the FBI agents and prosecutors involved in the case. “Today, our incredible law enforcement officers have once again helped thwart an alleged plot to kill Americans,” Sessions said.

If convicted, he faces a maximum 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.