Jihad in the Heartland

This may be my last will and testament, the last words I have spoken to those who know me, to those who do not know me. My name is Talib Abu Salam Ibn Shareef. I am 22 years of age. I am from America and this tape is to let you guys know, who disbelieve in Allah, to let the enemies of Islam know, and to let the Muslims alike know that the time for jihad is now....Be strong, oh Mujahaideen. Be strong oh brothers who want to fight for jihad...This is a warning to those who disbelieve, that we are here for you, and I am ready to give my life.

Thus spoke Derrick Shareef, aka Talib Abu Salam Ibn Shareef, who was arrested for plotting terrorist attacks in Illinois.

The attacks would have involved a CherryVale shopping mall in Rockford, Illinois (just outside Chicago) and Allah has running updates.

The attacks were planned for December 22, when Shareef thought the mall would be the busiest. He planned on using hand grenades to carry out the attack. Shareef met with an undercover federal agent to swap stereo speakers for four hand grenades and a handgun, and was arrested in a store parking lot.

In a complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Shareef was charged with attempting to damage or destroy a building by fire or explosion and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance this afternoon, officials said.

Authorities said there was never any risk to the public because Shareef was under heavy surveillance prior to his arrest.

Others blogging: Stop the ACLU, The Jawa Report, The Junkyard Blog, Suitably Flip.

UPDATE:
The Sun Times reports that federal authorities became involved when Shareef mentioned his intentions to a friend who then alerted authorities.

Shareef allegedly discussed targeting other local government facilities. He was charged with one count of attempting to damage or destroy a building by fire or explosion and one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Shareef’s alleged plot was foiled after he shared his plans with a friend, who cooperated with the FBI. Shareef told the person he wanted to commit “acts of violent jihad” against people and other crimes to obtain funds to further his goals.

He at one point told the informant he wanted to target government facilities.

“I want some type of city hall-type stuff now, federal court houses,” Shareef was caught on tape saying, according to an FBI affidavit. “I just want to smoke a judge.”

“Once the threat Shareef posed was detected by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, his activities and movements were under constant surveillance and there was no imminent risk to the public,” Chicago FBI chief Robert Grant said in a prepared statement.

Technorati: shareef, terrorism, jttf, derrick shareef, Talib Abu Salam Ibn Shareef, cherryvale.