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Maine man and two teens arrested for ‘planning to attack mosques in Chicago in name of ISIS’

Maine man and two teens arrested for 'planning to attack mosques in Chicago in name of ISIS' 2

An 18-year-old Maine man and two other teens, one in Chicago and another in Kentucky, conspired to attack a Chicago mosque with homemade explosives this month, new court documents reveal – until the FBI unraveled the plot.

The teens, agents said, concocted a scheme to massacre worshippers at the Shia mosque in the name of ISIS. 

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The recently unsealed federal filing alleges that Xavier Pelkey of Waterville and two teens, who were not named in court papers because they are juveniles, communicated through Instagram and other platforms to plot the attack.

They planned to convene in the Windy City for ‘spring break,’ according to authorities.

However, it was foiled by federal investigators last month after a search of Pelkey’s apartment turned up three homemade explosives, which feds say the group planned to use in the bombing.

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The filing reveals that Pelkey’s underage accomplices in the plot also were arrested and questioned. According to agents, upon being interrogated, the teen in Chicago told feds the plan was to ‘enter the Shia mosque and separate the adults from the children, then murder the adults’ – all in the name of the radical terror group. 

Details of the arrest and some of the teens’ blood-curdling scheme were reported in part following Pelkey’s arrest February 11, but the new filing, unsealed Friday, revealed the involvement of the other teens and their alleged connection to the Islamic State. 

An 18-year-old Maine man and two other teens conspired to attack a Chicago mosque with homemade explosives later this month, new court documents reveal. Pictured are homemade explosives recovered from the would-be bomber's residence

An 18-year-old Maine man and two other teens conspired to attack a Chicago mosque with homemade explosives later this month, new court documents reveal. Pictured are homemade explosives recovered from the would-be bomber’s residence

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The teens, feds say, concocted the scheme in the name of ISIS. Pictured is an Islamic State flag feds found at the Maine man's residence. The plot would have seen worshippers at the Shia mosque massacred in the name of the terror group

The teens, feds say, concocted the scheme in the name of ISIS. Pictured is an Islamic State flag feds found at the Maine man’s residence. The plot would have seen worshippers at the Shia mosque massacred in the name of the terror group

Following his arrest, Pelkey, who went by the online alias ‘Abdullah’ in messages compiled by the FBI, was charged in federal court in Bangor, Maine, with one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device, court records show.

If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine.

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However, the information in the new filing makes it likely that Pelkey and his two alleged accomplices could face conspiracy to commit murder charges, which means the suspects are facing life sentences. 

The ages of the two unnamed teens are still unknown, but the severity of that charge likely would see them tried as adults.

According to filing, the devices found at Pelkey’s residence, in the Maine man’s backpack, were made out of bundles of fireworks taped together. 

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The homemade bombs also were filled with staples, pins and thumbtacks, which were ‘designed to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled by an explosion if the devices were detonated’, it said.

Pictured is the Waterville, Maine, home of Xavier Pelkey, 18, who feds allege masterminded the plot. He was arrested at the domicile after his accomplices reportedly ratted him out upon being questioned by the FBI, which saw agents find the bombs while executing a search warrant on the home last month

Pictured is the Waterville, Maine, home of Xavier Pelkey, 18, who feds allege masterminded the plot. He was arrested at the domicile after his accomplices reportedly ratted him out upon being questioned by the FBI, which saw agents find the bombs while executing a search warrant on the home last month

The weapons’ construction, feds said, indicated the bombs were specifically designed as weapons, according to a FBI bomb technician.

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The filing said that Pelkey, when confronted by agents at his home, ‘told us he had “fireworks” in the apartment. 

‘After we found the three devices described above,’ an agent wrote, ‘I asked him why the fireworks were taped together.’

In response, Pelkey reportedly said, ‘To make a bigger boom,’ the affidavit reads. 

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‘I then asked him why the metal items were in the devices,’ Jacobs went on, ‘but he did not respond to my question.’

Feds also recovered an ISIS flag from Pelkey’s apartment, photos show. 

Agents wrote that the homemade bombs were also filled with staples, pins, and thumbtacks, which were 'designed to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled by an explosion if the devices were detonated'

The weapons' construction, feds said, indicated the bombs were specifically designed as weapons, based on the opinion of an FBI bomb technician who looked at the handmade devices

 According to feds, the devices found at Pelkey’s residence, two of which are pictured, were made out of bundles of fireworks that had been taped together

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During a detention hearing for Pelkey on February 22, federal prosecutors said they learned of the plot from two juvenile witnesses who told investigators Pelkey discussed doing to a mosque in Chicago and committing ‘mass murder.’

Following Friday’s filing, it looks as if those witnesses could be the two arrested as his accomplices. 

In messages sent to the two informants, Pelkey wrote about ‘potentially moving on to another mosque or synagogue and doing the same thing,’ federal prosecutors said during the February hearing, The Chicago Tribune reported at the time.

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Pelkey also told agents he ‘wanted to die fighting for Allah’ and then being shot by police. 

Pelkey’s attorney, Christopher MacLean, meanwhile, asserted that the teen had no such plans, the Tribune reported, saying that the facts will reveal the case to be a ‘much more mundane situation’ than prosecutors allege. 

Pelkey currently remains behind bars while awaiting trial.

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While denying a motion from the defense for Pelkey to be released while he awaits trial, U.S. Magistrate Judge John Nivison cited the ‘nature and seriousness of the danger presented’  

‘There are no conditions or combinations of conditions that will reasonably assure [Pelkey’s] appearance or the safety of the community.’    

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