Seattle terrorism plot foiled, Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, Walli Mujahidh arrested three years ago
The weapons had been rendered inoperable and posed no risk to the public. The defendants initially planned an attack on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, but later changed targets. The defendants intended to carry out their attack with both grenades and assault rifles.
Law enforcement began monitoring Abdul-Latif and Mujahidh on June 6, after being tipped off by a confidential source who was approached by Abdul-Latif as a recruit to join the plot and supply weapons to the conspirators, according to charging papers.
At the suggestion of the FBI, the source agreed to join the conspiracy and began recording all of his or her conversations with the other conspirators.
Authorities said the conspirators were captured repeatedly on audio and videotape discussing a violent assault on the Military Entrance Processing Station. The MEPS is where each branch of the military screens and processes enlistees. In addition to housing many civilian and military employees, the building houses a federal day-care center.
During an early conversation, Abdul-Latif allegedly told the source that he wanted to die a martyr in the attack and that he admired Bin Laden.
Later, Abdul-Latif explained his reasons for the attack in a recorded conversation, talking about his anger over the U.S. military‘s activities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen. He also told the source that killing American soldiers was justifiable, according to charging papers.