Feds: Chicago Man Wanted To Blow Up American Soldiers

Authorities say would-be jihadi Shaker Masri arrested before leaving on mission.

ByABC News
August 4, 2010, 5:28 PM

Aug. 4, 2010 — -- Counterterrorism agents in Chicago say they secretly followed a 26-year-old man from the city's Near North Side for nearly two years as he plotted to become a global Jihadist and even dreamed of executing a suicide bomb attack on American soldiers.

After determining that Shaker Masri of the Streeterville neighborhood had airplane tickets to leave Chicago this morning to carry out his mission, federal authorities say they stopped Masri and arrested him.

One attack scenario was allegedly discussed by Masri when he saw several soldiers walking on a Chicago street. On a secretly-recorded undercover tape, Masri discussed blowing himself up next to a busload of American soldiers.

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He was arrested Tuesday at 5:30 PM by federal agents who say they interrupted Masri's plan to destroy his computer prior to departing Chicago. He was ticketed on a Southwest Airlines flight, scheduled to leave Wednesday morning for Los Angeles, where he would then depart the country.

In a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday morning in Chicago, Masri is accused of two federal counts: that he tried to provide material support to Al Qaeda and Somali Al Qaeda affiliate Al Shabab, and that he tried to provide material support in a concealed or disguised manner to fund the use of a WMD.

Masri is an American citizen born in Alabama, according to details in a 24-page FBI affidavit unsealed Wednesday.

"He hoped to become a martyr by wearing a suicide vest," stated FBI agent Robert C. Parker in the affidavit. In a covertly-recorded conversation with a federal informant, Masri is allegedly heard to say, "I will not stay idle…I wish to know how to the explosive belt is made…I will wear one and not take it off."

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In a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday morning in Chicago, Masri is accused of two federal counts: that he tried to provide material support to Al Qaeda and Somali Al Qaeda affiliate Al Shabab, and that he tried to provide material support in a concealed or disguised manner to fund the use of a WMD.

Masri is an American citizen born in Alabama, according to details in a 24-page FBI affidavit unsealed Wednesday.

\"He hoped to become a martyr by wearing a suicide vest,\" stated FBI agent Robert C. Parker in the affidavit. In a covertly-recorded conversation with a federal informant, Masri is allegedly heard to say, \"I will not stay idle…I wish to know how to the explosive belt is made…I will wear one and not take it off.\"","publishedDate":"2010-08-04T21:28:34Z","contributors":[{"name":"ABC News","url":"","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2010-08-04T22:56:45Z","section":"Blotter","wordCount":288,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"image","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":null,"dateline":"Aug. 4, 2010 —","seo":{},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. 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