Son of Boston Police Captain Arrested as Possible Terrorist

[Blue_Tires]

Source: ABC News

The estranged son of a respected Boston police captain was arrested July 4 by FBI agents as part of a counter-terrorism operation against alleged ISIS-inspired domestic terrorists, federal officials told ABC News today.

Alexander Ciccolo, 23, of Adams, Mass., was taken into custody on gun charges after buying two pistols and two rifles from an undercover FBI confidential informant, federal officials said. In a search of his apartment, officials reported they found it loaded with possible bomb-making equipment including a pressure cooker, a variety of chemicals, an alarm clock, along with “attack planning papers” and “jihad” paperwork. FBI agents said he used the name Abu Ali al-Amriki and neighbors said he was a recent convert to Islam.

“This is a very bad person arrested before he could do very bad things,” one senior federal official briefed on the arrest told ABC News.
According to the FBI, Ciccolo attempted to stab a nurse in the head with a pen during a routine screening, “leaving a hole in the nurse’s skin.”

An FBI affidavit said Ciccolo initially planned to travel to “another state” and used a pressure cooker bomb “to conduct terrorist attacks on civilians, members of the U.S. military and law enforcement personnel.” The FBI said the attack location was later changed to a town with a state university and would be concentrated on “college dorms and cafeteria, to include executions of students, which would be broadcast live via the internet.”

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/officials-son-boston-police-captain-arrested-terrorist/story?id=32414150

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How does someone go from peace protestor to jihadist in just a few years?

[Ed Suspicious]

1. When it feels like the cause is futile I suspect some people will push toward extremism in an

attempt to force the change they desire. At age 23 "just a few years" feels like an eternity.

[Eric J in MN]

2. "a pressure cooker, a variety of chemicals, an alarm clock"

Lots of homes have those things.

[Helen Borg]

3. I've got those!

Plenty of chemicals too! Kitchen salt and baling soda. Those are chemicals. Not saying he was not planning something...

[hack89]

4. If he had a specific variety of chemicals that matched common explosives recipes

then it might be a reasonable assumption that he was building a bomb. They will scour his internet searches - they will know very quickly if he was researching bomb making.

[Blue_Tires]

7. Did you also just buy a bunch of guns despite being a convicted felon?

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Yeah, simpe mistake, he was a good kid,

just looking to make his mark in history.

I'm glad they bagged this guy when they did.

[Yo_Mama]

13. But if those are combined with materials about planning attacks

I suspect a problem.

[Yo_Mama]

15. Lots of homes don't have these things

According to the complaint affidavit, on July 4, 2015, Ciccolo took delivery of four firearms which he had ordered from a person who was cooperating with members of the Western Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force, and who had been communicating with Ciccolo about Ciccolo’s plans to engage in a terrorist act. Ciccolo was arrested immediately after taking delivery of the firearms, which included a Colt AR-15 .223 caliber rifle, a SigArms Model SG550-1 556 caliber rifle, a Glock 17- 9mm pistol and a Glock 20-10 mm pistol. Ciccolo had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in jail and therefore was prohibited from possessing firearms.

In an affidavit filed in support of the government’s detention motion, it is alleged that Ciccolo is a supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. According to the affidavit, Ciccolo spoke with a cooperating witness in recorded conversations about his plans to commit acts of terrorism inspired by ISIL, including setting off improvised explosive devices, such as pressure cookers filled with black powder, nails, ball bearings and glass, in places where large numbers of people congregate, such as college cafeterias. Prior to his arrest, agents observed Ciccolo purchase a pressure cooker similar to that used in the Boston Marathon bombings.

It is also alleged that during a search of Ciccolo’s apartment after he was arrested, agents found several partially constructed “Molotov cocktails.” These incendiary devices contained what appeared to be shredded Styrofoam soaking in motor oil. Ciccolo had previously stated that this mixture would cause the fire from the exploded devices to stick to people’s skin and make it harder to put the fire out.

If your home does contain incendiary devices with shredded styrofoam in motor oil, I suggest you leave and call the fire department for assistance.

[GoneFishin]

5. uh-huh.

[Blue_Tires]

9. Read the affidavit for yourself

http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/629331/download

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/massachusetts-man-charged-being-felon-possession-firearms

[rocktivity]

6. Possible terrorist? That's not what the press called Dylann Roof.

What's the difference -- that Ciccolo was most likely not targeting a race, or that he was radicalized by the "right" kind of extremist ideolgy?


rocktivity

[Yo_Mama]

14. Roof only came under scrutiny after he killed nine people

As for terrorism, that is distinct from hate crimes.

A hate crime is committed because of malice. Terrorists kill for political effect - to cause fear to create political changes.

Some FBI spokesman originally said it wasn't terrorism, but since Roof's stated purpose, batty as it was, was to spark a race war, I think they have to back off on that.

But regardless, it wasn't "possible".

[seveneyes]

10. Ciccolo recently stated that he is, “not afraid to die for the cause"

Not sure what the dumb mutherfucker's cause is, but he should now be able to get his wish while incarcerated for life.

[cosmicone]

11. Quick trial and immediate death penalty n/t

[freshwest]

12. Looks like a nice kid leading a nice life:

This is from the link with more details and photos, of the guns and where he lived and all of that. There he is with his peace sign in 2012.

Supposed to be peace after everyone surrenders to the will of God, Allah, Yahweh or whatever you call it. Nothing but the sword until the task is done. ISIS says their killing and brutality is to bring kingdom come and world peace faster. The end justifies the means.

I don't see this much different in the vision of RW Christian groups who think the end is coming and they want to be on the winning side when it does. Once you go there in your thought process, it's easy to justify anything. ANYTHING.

Wonder if the was a devout Christian before he converted? Also, why he picked that version of Islam to join with?