In early August 2007, two Egyptian students from the University of South Florida were arrested in South Carolina after explosive materials were located in their car during a routine traffic stop. The two individuals, identified as Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed and Yousef Samir Megahed, were held on state charges while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continued an investigation to determine if there was any connection to terrorism (Previous Report).
In late August 2007, the two students were indicted on federal charges for carrying explosives across state lines without a permit. Mohamed also faces terrorism-related charges on suspicion of demonstrating to Megahed how to use the explosives for violent means. These charges, in addition to reports that one of the students engaged in past terrorist activity, have raised concerns about the actual intent of the arrested individuals, and if they were planning to use the materials in an attack.
Federal Indictment
According to the federal indictment, both Mohamed and Megahed knowingly transported explosive materials across state lines. Authorities have not released specific information regarding the explosive materials found in the students’ car, however local officials described the devices as pipe bombs. Both students face ten years in prison if convicted of this charge.
Moreover, federal investigators believe that Mohamed attempted to assist terrorists by teaching and demonstrating, specifically to Megahed, how to use explosives. According to the indictment, Mohamed demonstrated how to make and use an explosive device for use in, “an activity that constitutes a federal crime of violence.” According to reports, officials also suspect that Mohamed exchanged information via the Internet on the construction of such devices, as well as details on how to build small, easily concealed bombs. Federal authorities have not released information regarding what was on the laptop confiscated during the initial arrest of the two students. Mohamed faces 20 years in prison if convicted of the terrorism charge.
In light of the federal indictment, the state prosecutor involved in the case has indicated that she will dismiss the state charges against the two students, in favor of the federal prosecution.
Previous Terrorist Activity
According to media reports, unidentified officials involved in the case have indicated that Mohamed was previously arrested in Egypt, his home country, on terrorism-related charges. Allegedly, he produced a video with instructions on how to construct a remote-controlled car bomb. It is believed that he distributed the video on the Internet.
On August 11, 2007, the FBI and other officials searched a home in Temple Terrace, Florida in connection with the case. Reports have stated that authorities were searching the premises for videos and other recordings, as well as any materials related to explosive devices or detonators, including screwdrivers, soldering irons, digital watches, and remote control devices for toys. Media reports have stated that the search warrant return, (or the list of seized items), included passport photos, a biohazard cassette, a disassembled watch, a circuit board, as well as various chemicals and powders.
As stated previously, the searched home in Temple Terrace was earlier rented to the Islamic think tank World and Islam Studies Enterprise (WISE), located at the University of South Florida. WISE has been linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), because one of its founders returned to the Middle East as the head of PIJ after its previous leader was assassinated (Previous Report).
Federal authorities also conducted several searches in Tampa, including that of a storage facility and a park where the two students may have tested explosives.
Implications
In light of the reports that Mohamed engaged in previous terrorist-related activity while in Egypt, the suspicious materials confiscated during the search of a Temple Terrace home, and the possible connection to PIJ have raised many questions regarding the intent of the two arrested students. While authorities have not released specific details of the case or confirmed suspicions, these various reports are cause for concern.
The arrests also raise questions about the ability of extremists to gain entry into the United States by student visas (both Mohamed and Megahed were in the country on such visas), particularly if they have no criminal past.
The case follows several other disrupted plots and arrests in recent months of extremists plotting to carry out attacks on US interests, such as the May 2007 plot to attack Fort Dix (Previous Report) and the February 2007 arrest of two Chicago men planning to attack US personnel overseas (Previous Report).
We believe that similar small groups of extremists will continue to emerge and attempt to carry out attacks against the homeland. While such plots are often unsophisticated, they highlight the threat facing the US and the challenge that such extremists pose to authorities.