An 18-year-old Philadelphia resident, Muhyyee-Ud-Din Abdul-Rahman, has been charged in connection with an alleged terrorism plot with links to Syria. The Philadelphia teenager, initially set on attending college on a wrestling scholarship, is now facing serious accusations of terrorism, including plans to target local events - including a Pride event - and military facilities.
Philadelphia authorities conducted a search of Abdul-Rahman’s West Philadelphia home last month upon discovering electronic communications between him and terrorist organisations in Syria. Subsequent investigations revealed that Abdul-Rahman had been gathering materials to create explosives in his family's home.
Philadelphia First Assistant District Attorney Robert Listenbee highlighted the severity of the charges during a press conference, stating, "The defendant wanted to leave America and go to Syria to join a terrorist group. He developed bombs in his home and tested those bombs 12 to 20 times in his backyard and in the woods nearby. Some of the bomb-making parts were found in his trash before he was arrested.”
Among the items discovered during the investigation were online records indicating Abdul-Rahman was planning potential attacks in the Philadelphia area, targeting prominent events such as the Philly Pride March, the Army-Navy game, local power plants, and military bases. Authorities also found evidence suggesting Abdul-Rahman harboured hatred towards the LGBTQ+ community.
Upon his arrest, Abdul-Rahman allegedly expressed his desire to travel to Syria to join Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ) and Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS), organisations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and designated as global terrorist entities by the US State Department. Abdul-Rahman purportedly aimed to become their primary bomb maker.
Listenbee conveyed the court's view on Abdul-Rahman’s capabilities, stating, “The court referred to him as very creative, very much a critical thinker, a smart young man who also had a determination to become a bomb maker and a terrorist.” His commitment to the cause was further underscored by his unsuccessful attempts to contact the border crossing between Turkey and Syria on April 2, 2023.
Authorities asserted that Abdul-Rahman had made it clear he had no intention of pursuing his college education and understood the implications of his plans, which included never returning to the United States.
The charges Abdul-Rahman faces are extensive, including attempts to commit weapons of mass destruction, arson, causing or risking catastrophe, criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person. Currently, Abdul-Rahman remains in custody under a $5 million bond.
Source: Noah Wire Services