A man was arrested on charges of plotting a terrorist bombing of a Fourth of July parade in downtown Cleveland, authorities said Monday.
Demetrius Pitts, 48, who was arrested on Sunday, was bent on getting revenge on members of the U.S. military for the deaths of Muslims overseas, according to the criminal complaint.
Pitts is accused of planning to use explosives to blow up the parade on Independence Day, and saying he wanted to target military families.
He was arrested after allegedly revealing his plan to undercover agents.
“I’m trying to figure this out," he told an undercover agent, according to the criminal complaint. “I’m trying to figure out something that would shake them up on the Fourth of July.”
He allegedly asked the agent, “What would what would hit them in the core? Blow up in the, have a bomb to blow up at the Fourth of July parade.”
The suspect — who has a criminal record, including domestic violence arrests — also expressed a strong desire to join Al Qaeda, police said.
He was charged with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and was expected to appear before a magistrate later Monday.
Officials said he is a U.S. citizen who was radicalized in the country. Facebook posts indicated a desire to learn how to shoot guns and handle weapons.
Pitts also allegedly expressed a desire to commit a terrorist act in Philadelphia.
The suspect was brought to the FBI’s attention in December 2015 when a Facebook profile belonging to Abdur Raheem Rafeeq sent a private message to a political commentary program stating, “f--k America and there arm [sic] forces. The USA will be destroy. Allahu Akbar.”
Investigators said they determined that Abdur Raheem Rafeeq and Pitts are the same person.
In January 2017, he used the same Facebook account to comment on pictures believed to be from a jihad training camp, according to the criminal complaint.
“We as Muslim need to start,” he wrote. “Training like this everyday. We need to known how to shoot guns. Throw hand grenades hand to hand combat. How survey out in the woods. Look at the ... blue eyed devils. They teach their little dogs on how to shoot and Hunt. If you fear death. Then don’t say you love Islam. The Rasool saw said. We should always be prepared to fight in the name of Allah Akbar. All cowards stay home. Walsalaam. Abdur Raheem sahl Rafeeq. Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar.”
Authorities allege that Pitts “expressed a desire” last year to recruit people to kill Americans, and stated he would have “no remorse” if he killed in the name of religion.
