20-year-old Saudi pleads not guilty to terror charge in Texas

[News_Editor]

20-year-old Saudi pleads not guilty to terror charge in Texas

2011-03-30 03:27:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

LUBBOCK, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) -- A 20-year-old Saudi Arabian man on Monday pleaded not guilty to one charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction in Lubbock, Texas, KCBD television reported.

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 20, a Lubbock resident, declined to have the indictment read during an arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koenig. The trial was set for May 2. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Aldawsari was arrested on February 23 by FBI agents in Texas on a federal charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction in connection with his alleged purchase of chemicals and equipment necessary to make an improvised explosive device (IED) and his research of potential U.S. targets.

The terrorist suspect allegedly researched online how to construct an IED using several chemicals as ingredients. He also acquired or took a substantial step toward acquiring most of the ingredients and equipment necessary to construct the explosive.

In addition, he has allegedly described his desire for violent jihad and martyrdom in blog postings and a personal journal as well as researching for potential targets in U.S. soil, among them power plants, hydro dams, and the home of former President George W. Bush.

Aldawsari was lawfully admitted into the United States in 2008 on a student visa and is enrolled at South Plains College near Lubbock. On February 1, a chemical supplier reported to the FBI a suspicious attempted purchase of concentrated phenol by the defendant.

Phenol is a toxic chemical with legitimate uses, but can also be used to make the explosive trinitrophenol, also known as T.N.P., or picric acid. The chemical is also usually mixed with concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids for such goal.

Aldawsari allegedly attempted to have the phenol order shipped to a freight company so it could be held for him there, but the freight company returned the order to the supplier and called the police.

The defendant cancelled his order and later e-mailed himself instructions for producing phenol. In December 2010, he had previously purchased concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids.

Two legally authorized searches of Aldawsari's apartment conducted by the FBI in February 2011 resulted in the discovery of the chemicals and other items used in the preparation of explosives, including gas mask, a Hazmat suit, a soldering iron kit, glass beakers and flasks, wiring, a stun gun, clocks and a battery tester.

FBI agents also found a notebook at Aldawsari's residence that appeared to be a diary or journal where he had written plans to commit a terrorist attack in the United States for years.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-30

[ukrules]

This is not a WMD unless the M stands for 'Minimum'

[Tinkelbell]

Big hand for the chemical supplier and the freight company who took the matter in their own hand by reporting the suspicious activities to the FBI.

just think of how many lives you have saved.