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Amine El KhalifiMoroccan terrorist
Country:
 Morocco |
Content:
- Biography of Amin Al-Khalifi
- Involvement with Al-Qaeda
- Arrest and Guilty Plea
- Run-ins with the Law
- Surveillance by Authorities
- Shift in Plans and Arrest
- Legal Proceedings
Biography of Amin Al-Khalifi
IntroductionAmin Al-Khalifi is a Moroccan terrorist who was arrested by the FBI on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack on the United States Capitol. He is currently facing charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction against federal property. If found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Involvement with Al-Qaeda
Al-Khalifi believed that he was working for agents of Al-Qaeda, but in reality, he was negotiating with undercover FBI agents. There is no evidence linking him to the actual Al-Qaeda organization, and all of the weapons he obtained were provided by FBI informants. Authorities claim that Al-Khalifi was under constant surveillance and would not have been able to harm innocent civilians with the acquired equipment.
Arrest and Guilty Plea
On June 22, 2012, Al-Khalifi pleaded guilty to preparing a suicidal terrorist attack on the United States Capitol, which was supposed to take place in February 2012. He believed that his act of self-destruction would be part of a larger-scale terrorist attack. Al-Khalifi arrived in the United States at the age of 16 on a visitor visa and settled in Arlington, Virginia, where he remained even after his visa expired. He struggled to find steady employment as an undocumented immigrant and made ends meet through odd jobs.
Run-ins with the Law
Al-Khalifi did not hold much regard for U.S. laws, as he had several traffic violations on his record and was once charged with possession of marijuana. However, he was more devout in his religious pursuits, frequently attending a nearby mosque.
Surveillance by Authorities
Authorities became aware of Al-Khalifi's activities in 2010 when he was evicted from his apartment for failing to pay rent. He expressed anger towards his landlord and even threatened to harm him, prompting the landlord to contact the authorities. During discussions with the police, it was discovered that Al-Khalifi regularly received suspicious packages, leading the landlord to suspect he was building bombs in his apartment. While the police did not take immediate action, they reported Al-Khalifi to the appropriate authorities. By January 2011, he was under surveillance unbeknownst to him, and he made incriminating statements in private conversations. Al-Khalifi believed that the war on terrorism had turned into a war against Muslims and felt morally justified in resisting.
Shift in Plans and Arrest
On January 7, 2012, Al-Khalifi openly expressed a desire to join armed extremists. However, by January 15, he changed his plans and aspired to become a suicide bomber. He admitted to trying to create a simple detonator using a cell phone and intended to acquire explosives sufficient to destroy a building. Al-Khalifi set February 17 as the date for his planned attack and visited Washington multiple times to familiarize himself with the target. On the designated day, he received a fake suicide belt and a submachine gun from his contact. He was apprehended while heading towards the Capitol building.
Legal Proceedings
The trial began on the day of his arrest, and on June 22, 2012, Al-Khalifi pleaded guilty. His voluntary confession is likely to mitigate his sentence, and instead of facing life imprisonment, he could receive a term of 25 to 30 years. The sentencing is expected to take place on September 14, 2012.
