(MOBILE, Ala.) - Two Mobile residents involved in an international terrorist plot were arrested Tuesday by federal agents, a federal attorney said.
Authorities said 25-year-old Mohammad Abdul Rahman Abukhdair and Randy "Rasheed" Wilson are accused of devising a plan to "wage violent jihad" in Africa.
According to a release from U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown and Mobile FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Richardson, Wilson was arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Morocco. Abukhdair was arrested in Augusta, Ga., at a bus terminal.
Authorities said Abukhdair was scheduled to fly to Morocco from Montreal on Dec. 13.
An undercover FBI agent had been working with Wilson and Abukhdair for months on the international operation. Authorities said they planned to fly to Casablanca in Morocco, and eventually travel to the country of Mauritania where, authorities said, they would be close to jihad conflict.
The complaint filed in U.S. District Court states that Wilson and Abukhadair met online in 2010, and began planning to travel overseas to commit "violent jihad." Authorities said the two obtained passports illegally, watched hours of Islamic extremist propaganda and even had the undercover agent buy them airfare to Casablanca, Morocco.
Officials also said Wilson was a close friend of Omar Hammami, the Daphne-born terrorist now on the FBI's "Most Wanted Terrorist" list.
Neighbors of Wilson's former home on Linlen Avenue were shocked to hear of his arrest, and that a terrorist lived in their own backyard.
"That to me is, just, it seems beyond belief, but may well be the case for anyone," Tom Rothar said. They're going to present themselves as the most gracious neighbor you could have. I never had any type of questionable-type neighborly experience."
The complaint also states that the two opened up a men's fragrance store in Mobile on a three year lease this year as a way, they said, to throw off FBI agents from their alleged plan.
