Man Accused In Plot To Attack Mall

[GlockenHammer]

I have to wonder if he picked Illinois because he knew he would not face armed citizens in his plot?

From http://www.click2houston.com/news/10495 ... 0112082006

CHICAGO -- An Illinois man has been arrested by federal agents on charges of planning to set off hand grenades in a shopping mall.

Authorities said the man was arrested Wednesday when he met with an undercover agent in a parking lot to trade a set of stereo speakers for four grenades and a handgun.

Federal officials said that in September, 22-year-old Derrick Shareef became acquainted with an FBI cooperating witness, and confided to him that he wanted to commit acts of "violent jihad" against civilians, as well as other crimes.


He has been 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.

An indictment was unsealed in federal court on Friday, alleging the plot on an unnamed shopping mall. The man was scheduled to appear in federal court later Friday.

[Popshot]

Perhaps that was a factor - perhaps it was not. In any case, we all need to be on guard.

[Jungle Work]

Since a 22 year old male, named Talib Abu Salam Ibn Shareef was planning on doing it, all malls should start stripping searching 80 year old Jewish ladies before they enter the mall. Isn't Political Correctness wonderful.

Jungle Work

[seamusTX]

I have to wonder if he picked Illinois because he knew he would not face armed citizens in his plot?

I think he picked Illinois because he lives there, and it's a long way from Chicago to another place with a lot of large, crowded malls.

A lot of people carry in Illinois. It's generally not legal, but they do. (I used to live there.)

- Jim

[GlockenHammer]

A lot of people carry in Illinois. It's generally not legal, but they do. (I used to live there.)

FOID holder, "cased" and magazine not inserted, eh?

[seamusTX]

FOID holder, "cased" and magazine not inserted, eh?

No, I mean plain carrying contrary to the law, whether or not with criminal intentions.

No one knows how many otherwise law-abiding citizens carry, but people who are arrested are found to be carrying quite often.

- Jim

[nitrogen]

My father in law carried commonly when he worked in Illinois, even in chicago. He worked for the railroad and met quite a few shady people in his time there. I'll back up what SeamusTX says: it's more common than you think.

[seamusTX]

Thanks.

It's quite common with taxi drivers. They may have warded off dozens of attempted robberies and kept their lips zipped. When they finally had to shoot a bad guy, they would be in nearly as much trouble as the criminal.

- Jim

[AggieMM]

Authorities said the man was arrested Wednesday when he met with an undercover agent in a parking lot to trade a set of stereo speakers for four grenades and a handgun.

Am I the only one that spilled their drink when reading that??? Sometimes the intelligence of criminals surprises me. "Sure, I'll trade you $1000s worth of black market goods for $100 stereo speakers". I guess he couldn't smell the setup......


Ryan

[HighVelocity]

More news from Chicago, within the last 10 minutes there was a shootout, possibly a hostage situation with multiple injuries at an office building in Chicago that sits on top of a transit station.
I will update as I get more info.

[seamusTX]

Sometimes the intelligence of criminals surprises me.

This guy was not only a few bricks short of a load, it sounds like he was nuts. Not that everyone who wants to blow up innocent people isn't nuts, but really nuts.

I was wrong about him hitting a mall in Chicago. The place he named is in Rockford, Illinois, about 100 miles west of Chicago. It's where he lived.

Here's a more detailed story: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1656 ... or.article

- Jim

[HighVelocity]

More news from Chicago, within the last 10 minutes there was a shootout, possibly a hostage situation with multiple injuries at an office building in Chicago that sits on top of a transit station.
I will update as I get more info.

Update, shooting started in a law firm on the 38th floor. There are two firms on that floor but which was involved is unknown at this point.
The building is at 500 W Maddison

Update, 4 people shot, 2 are critical.

Update, the firm was; Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer.

Update, Shooter had a short barrelled revolver, knife and hammer. Shooter taken out by swat (maybe), status unknown.

[anygunanywhere]

FOID holder, "cased" and magazine not inserted, eh?

No, I mean plain carrying contrary to the law, whether or not with criminal intentions.

No one knows how many otherwise law-abiding citizens carry, but people who are arrested are found to be carrying quite often.

- Jim

If illegal carry is so common, why don't the subjects of Illinois change the status quo? I used to carry prior to CHL too but that does not make it right. I was in Joliet on business two weeks ago and really didn't like my options. The locals might think the penalties are slight, but I don't. Tough to declare it at the airport too with the laws the way they are.

[seamusTX]

If illegal carry is so common, why don't the subjects of Illinois change the status quo?

I don't know. It's a complicated situation.

There are many people in Illinois who would vote for a dead possum if it was on the Democratic ticket. The legislature always has a Democratic majority (as far as I can recall). The current mayor of Chicago (Daley) treats the state legislature like a rubber stamp, and he is an anti-RKBA fanatic.

People who want to carry are not a big enough voting block to overcome all that. Furthermore, if a candidate ran on a pro-RKBA platform, the incumbent politicians and the media would grind him up.

When I said many people carry illegally, many of those are actual criminals. They don't vote.

Ordinary people have some bizarre, illogical attitudes. Every now and then (maybe once a year) a taxi driver or bus driver shot a robber or violent, deranged attacker. The innocent person who defended himself would be charged with firearms violations. People would say, "That's not right. He was just defending himself."

If I asked, "Right. So shouldn't honest citizens be allowed to carry firearms?" they would say, "No. That's too dangerous."

I don't live there any more. I haven't been back for a visit since 2001. I don't miss anything about it.

- Jim

[cyphur]

Sheeple's attitudes won't change until their local Walmarts and movie theatres go up in fertilizer-fueled explosions and their children's school busses start being suicide car-bombed.

When terrorism starts up domestically(more of a "when" than an "if" in my mind), people will realize the world is not as safe as they pretend it is.....