A 21-year-old Georgia man has been arrested as part of an almost yearlong investigation by a joint terrorism task force for allegedly plotting to attack the White House with a homemade explosive and an anti-tank rocket.
Hasher Taheb, who was also allegedly planning to target other federal buildings, was subject to a nearly 12-month probe after a March 2018 tip from a member of the public who told authorities the young man had been radicalized, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Byung J. Pak told reporters Wednesday at a press conference.
Another potential target was the Statue of Liberty, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The newspaper reported that an FBI informant made contact with Taheb after he posted an ad to sell his vehicle last August. Taheb reportedly told the informant he needed the money to fund a trip to Islamic State territory, though he didn’t have a passport.
Chris Hacker, FBI special agent in charge of the Atlanta field office, said the bureau believed Taheb was acting alone, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
Taheb was charged with attempting to damage by means of an explosive any building owned, possessed, or leased by the United States. He appeared before a federal judge in Atlanta on Wednesday. He’s next due in court Jan. 24.
