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Florida Man Accused Of Beach Backpack Bomb Plot

Florida Man Accused Of Beach Backpack Bomb Plot

A Florida man has been accused of plotting to bury an explosive device hidden in a backpack on a Key West beach before detonating it.

Harlem Suarez, who prosecutors said is a "self-professed adherent" of the Islamic State group, is charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

According to the criminal complaint, the 23-year-old came to the attention of the FBI in April because of his extremist rhetoric on Facebook.

Suarez's posts allegedly included barely literate statements such as: "And soon we will the rest of warrior will come here us@ from Canada and mexico and bring the caliphate here And start fighting who are agints Muslims".

"We are you behad cristians isis".

In a text message, Suarez allegedly wrote: "One day I will cook American ... In cages ... Flaming".

Also known as Almlak Benitez, he allegedly told a confidential source he planned to make a "timer bomb".

Suarez, who lived with his parents, was also said to have bought components for the device, which was to contain nails.

Prosecutors said he plotted to bury the device at a public beach and then detonate it remotely by mobile phone.

"I can go to the beach at the night time, put the thing in the sand, cover it up, so the next day I just call and the thing is gonna, is gonna make, a real hard noise from nowhere," he told an FBI source in a recorded call, according to the Department of Justice.

He was arrested on 27 July after an informant gave him a device Suarez did not realise was a fake, prosecutors said.

He also allegedly wanted to place bombs under police officers' cars and outside their homes.

Suarez told the informant he had two Glock handguns and wanted to obtain another firearm, according to court documents.

On 7 May, a Key West pawn shop alerted the FBI that he told them he had ordered two AK-47 assault rifles on the internet and was having them shipped to their business address for him to collect.

The agents contacted the website company which confirmed that Suarez had used his real name and address to purchase a single AK-47.

"The FBI investigation revealed that Suarez does not have any disqualifying factors that would prevent him from legally obtaining this firearm," states the criminal complaint.

Suarez also allegedly said he was trying to recruit more "brothers", but could not trust anyone.

The use of FBI informants to entrap terror suspects has been criticised in recent years.

Rights activists have said such sting operations merely lure troubled young men into bogus bomb plots.

But FBI Special Agent George Piro said: "There is no room for failure when it comes to investigating the potential use of a weapon of mass destruction.

"The FBI and our local, state and federal partners work around the clock to prevent such catastrophic weapons from being used against our citizens."