A Philadelphia teenager is facing charges for allegedly planning a potentially catastrophic terrorist attack in collaboration with an al-Qaeda-affiliated organization.
FBI and SWAT officers apprehended the 17-year-old on August 11 following an investigation by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The unidentified juvenile is suspected of communicating with Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, a group designated as a global terrorist group by the State Department.
Operating primarily in Syria’s Idlib Province, the organization is linked to al-Qaeda and has been implicated in previous attacks in Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
The teenager reportedly received guidance from the terror group on crafting improvised explosive devices. FBI agents observed his acquisition of bomb-making materials and tactical gear before his arrest.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner emphasized that the diligent work of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force might have thwarted a potential attack. The charges filed against the teen represent one of the most serious instances of alleged terrorist activity in the country’s recent history.
Although the juvenile will initially avoid federal charges due to his age, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office plans to seek adult prosecution. The charges include weapons of mass destruction, criminal conspiracy, arson, and other serious offenses.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire noted the teenager’s apparent intention to join or support terrorist activities overseas. She highlighted his access to firearms and his purchases of materials for making improvised explosive devices.
Recent surveillance showed the teenager acquiring tactical equipment, chemicals, wiring, and potentially dangerous devices. Customs and Border Protection records also indicated several international shipments of military gear to his address.
Authorities highlighted the vulnerability of teenagers to radicalization by terror groups, as seen in the teenager’s case. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence warned in 2018 that such radicalization could lead to lasting threats of attacks by minors, facilitated by online messaging and youth-targeted propaganda.
While identifying suspicious behaviors in juvenile terrorism cases remains a challenge for law enforcement, this operation likely prevented a significant threat.