A plea hearing is scheduled for an Arlington man accused of threatening on Facebook to set off bombs around the D.C. area, including in the Metro system.
Awais Younis, 25, was charged in federal court in Alexandria in December with using Facebook to threaten to set off explosives. Authorities were tipped off to Younis, who also goes by Sundullah “Sunny” Ghilzai and Mohhanme Khan, by someone who corresponded with him on the social-networking site.
Younis has pleaded not guilty to sending threatening interstate communications, but a change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for Wednesday evening.
According to an affidavit and indictment, Younis described on Facebook how to build a pipe bomb and advocated placing bombs on the third and fifth cars of Metro trains because they “had the highest number of commuters.” He also allegedly said he could put a bomb under a Georgetown sewer head at rush hour.
Younis has had a history of mental-health issues, and drugs and a gun were found in his home, according to prosecutors.
