An alleged would-be suicide bomber was arrested
on his way to what he believed would be an attack on the U.S. Capitol
Friday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Amine El Khalifi, 29, an illegal immigrant from Morocco, was
charged in a Virginia court with attempting to use a weapon of mass
destruction against government property. He could face up to life in
prison.
Law enforcement officials had become aware of his alleged desire
to attack U.S. targets and he was later introduced to agents posing as
members of al-Qaeda.
El Khalifi proposed a bomb attack against U.S. military facilities,
a synagogue or a restaurant frequented by military officers before
settling on the Capitol as a target in what he allegedly believed was
a broader al-Qaeda operation, the Justice Department said.
Agents posing as al-Qaeda members had provided him with a fake gun
and fake explosives in a suicide vest at a parking garage on Friday
that they claim he intended to set off at the Capitol. He had
apparently surveyed the building on multiple occasions in recent
weeks and met with the agents to discuss details of the attack.
The U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI arrested El Khalifi in the
parking garage near the Capitol.
"At no time was the public or congressional community in any
danger," a police spokeswoman said.
