Shaker Masri, a 26-year-old Chicagoan was arrested by Chicago members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Masri lived in the Steeterville area of Chicago and was arrested after an 18-month investigation.
He was charged in U.S. District Court with two felony offenses:
1. attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization
2. attempting to provide material support through use of a weapon of mass destruction (WMD)
Masri, a United States citizen, began voicing radical Muslim rhetoric in 2009, including wanting to take part in Jihad and fight the infidels.
Allegedly, Masri had begun planning a trip to Somalia in order to join al Shabaab and commit a suicide attack against the infidels. Masri was arrested hours before he planned to leave Chicago for Somalia.
According to the FBI’s Chicago office, the JTTF’s investigation ” included the use of undercover operatives and court authorized electronic surveillance of a telephone used by MASRI and resulted in the filing of the charges announced today.”
He appeared in court and was formally charged this morning; he’s being held without bond pending his next appearance in court.
