Mysterious Man Arrested for Ideological Motivations

An indeterminate man of unknown origin with possible “ideological motivations” has been arrested for plotting a terror attack in Illinois. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

WASHINGTON - A man was arrested in the Chicago area on Friday for allegedly plotting to attack Rockford, Ill., over the holidays, officials told NBC News.
The plan involved a bombing and a shooting, the officials said. The man had no accomplices and was not part of a terrorist cell, sources said on condition of anonymity. He will be appearing in court later Friday, NBC’s Pete Williams reported.
A court appearance originally scheduled for 12:45 pm ET was delayed, offiicals said. They did not say when it was going to be held.
The FBI has been aware of the plot and has been monitoring him closely, Williams reported. The plan was allegedly ideologically motivated. No other details were released, but authorities said the arrest eliminated the risk of the attack being carried out.

UPDATE at 12/8/06 10:21:47 am:
More details at CBS 2 Chicago: Suspect Arrested In Alleged Chicago Terror Plot.
Law enforcement officials say the man was a U.S. citizen, and planned to commit some sort of terrorist attack in Chicago. The man had “ideas and desires, but no means,” law enforcement sources said.
A source said earlier that the alleged plot might have involved a shopping mall, but later information did not specify what the target was.
Law enforcement officials added that the alleged plot was not on the level of 9/11, and even “three rungs below” the recent Miami plot that was disrupted. That plot involved alleged plans to blow up Chicago’s Sears Tower.
The man arrested Friday is considered a lone operator without ties to any known terrorist organization, law enforcement sources said.
Another case of Sudden Buddhist Syndrome?

UPDATE at 12/8/06 10:47:28 am:
CNN puts a name to the mystery man: Man arrested in mall attack plot, source says.
The man — described as a U.S. citizen named Derrick Shareef — faces charges for allegedly planning to set off hand grenades in garbage cans in malls during the holiday season.
He was arrested Wednesday, the source said.
A criminal complaint filed against him was unsealed Friday. He is to be charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and with planning to damage or destroy buildings by fire or explosion, the source said.

UPDATE at 12/8/06 10:53:07 am:
The Guardian has a tiny insignificant detail no one else seems to think is important: Man Charged With Shopping Mall Bomb Plot.
Federal officials said that in September, Shareef became acquainted with a witness who was cooperating with the FBI and confided to him that he wanted to commit acts of “violent jihad,” as well as other crimes.

UPDATE at 12/8/06 10:56:38 am:
The Smoking Gun has the FBI affidavit. Turns out Shareef isn’t a Buddhist after all.
Shopping Mall Terror Plot Foiled. (Hat tip: zombie.)
DECEMBER 8—An Illinois man plotted to set off hand grenades at shopping malls in a holiday season terror campaign that was thwarted by federal investigators. According to an FBI affidavit, Derrick Shareef, 22, told a confidential source that he wanted to “commit violent acts of jihad,” and spoke of killing judges and blowing up public buildings. A copy of the affidavit can be found below. Shareef told the snitch that he sought “to disrupt Christmas,” adding that, “I swear by Allah man, I’m down for it too, I’m down for the cause, I’m down to live for the cause and die for the cause, man.” The document does not further describe the supposed cause of Shareef, who was named today in a federal felony complaint. Shareef is quoted telling the FBI source, “I probably would have eventually ended up stabbing the shit outta some Jews or something. Just stabbing them niggers with a steak knife...Because during that war with Hezbollah, man, I had already started to look at synagogues out here...”