Hasher Jallal Taheb, 21, of Cumming, was taken into custody in Gwinnett County while allegedly trying to exchange his vehicle for explosives.
Federal authorities arrested a metro Atlanta man yesterday and said was plotting to attack the White House but instead got entangled with the FBI. He later appeared in court in downtown Atlanta in the case brought by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Authorities said Taheb was acting alone and they made no accusation that he had ties to any terrorist group. He was arrested after a tip from a resident who said the young man had been radicalized.
Taheb’s alleged attack on the White House was supposed to take place January 17 and involve various explosives and firearms, though even days before he claimed he had still never fired a gun in his life but could learn fast, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities also said he planned to travel to the Islamic State territory but acknowledged he didn’t have a passport.
“All potential threats have been neutralized and were under control from the inception of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak, who added that authorities would take no questions on the investigation, which is ongoing. The criminal complaint accuses Taheb of plotting to destroy a government building, which is punishable by five to 20 years.
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