Virginia Facebook Jihadist Discussed Targeting Most Crowded Commuter Trains In D.C., Building Bombs To Cause Most Casualties From Schrapnel

From Jihad Watch:

Virginia Facebook jihadist discussed targeting most crowded commuter trains in D.C., building bombs to cause most casualties from shrapnel


More on this story. "Feds: Man threatened transit system in D.C.," from CNN, December 14:



(CNN) -- An Virginia man who allegedly threatened during a Facebook chat to detonate explosives in the Washington area was arrested last week and is undergoing a mental evaluation, according to federal court documents that came to light Tuesday.

A familiar tactic may be in the works.



Awais Younis, also identified as Sundullah Ghilzai, told an FBI complainant through Facebook how how to build a pipe bomb "and what type of shrapnel would cause the greatest amount of damage," according to an affidavit from an FBI special agent. The threatened targets included the Washington Metro transit system.

Younis, who is being held at the Alexandria, Virginia, Detention Center, was arrested December 6 on charges of communicating threats using interstate communications, according to prosecutors. Younis has not been charged with any federal terrorism violation.

A law enforcement source says a handgun was found at his residence but no other weapons or explosives. The threat is judged to be "minimal," according to the source. [...]

Younis stated that a rush-hour explosion would produce the greatest number of casualties and that the "third and fifth cars in the Metro trains had the highest number of commuters on them," the court document reads. Younis further said "he could place pipe bombs in these locations and would not be noticed," the documents read.

When Younis' Facebook acquaintance told him, "You wouldn't do that," Younis allegedly replied, "Watch me," the document says.

Investigators said Younis' Facebook page, using the name Ghilzai, contained a photo of Younis in Afghanistan holding an AK-47 rifle, with his uncle standing in front of a tent containing explosives. A caption read, "My family business," the affidavit says.

A separate photo posted December 1 depicts a hand holding rifle rounds for a machine gun with the caption "bullet behind every rock."

Younis' online acquaintance said Younis recently stated on Facebook that "Christmas trees were going to go boom," according to the affidavit....Posted by Marisol on December 14, 2010 4:16 PM