Georgia man pleads guilty to planning terrorist attacks on White House, other DC monuments
WASHINGTON (SBG) – The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday a Georgia man has pleaded guilty to planning a terrorist attack on the White House.
23-year-old Hasher Jallal Taheb, of Cumming, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to destroy, by fire or an explosive, a building owned by or leased to the United States, according to the press release. Officials say he had planned an attack on the White House using weapons and explosives.
Back in March of 2018, a member of the Atlanta community reported concerns to local law officials who then got in touch with the FBI, officials say.
“Taheb hatched a dangerous plan that would have resulted in unimaginable injury,” said Byung J. “BJay” Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “We are grateful to community members who noticed his dangerous evolution and alerted law enforcement. Along with our federal, state and local partners, we will remain vigilant in order to disrupt these types of attacks before they happen.”
The press release goes on to say an undercover operation by the FBI in October 2018 revealed that Taheb had applied for a U.S. passport and started planning domestic attacks as part of a desire to participate in "jihad." Taheb's initial targets included the White House in Washington D.C. and the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
Officials state his plans broadened in December 2018 and other prospective targets included the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and a synagogue. During an undercover meeting with Taheb in January 2019, he described weapons and explosives he wanted to use in the attacks, including semi-automatic weapons, improvised explosive devices, an anti-tank weapon and hand grenades, the release states.
Sentencing will take place this June.
