A West Philadelphia man was convicted for building explosives and plotting to attack multiple targets, including a Pride parade in Pennsylvania and additional sites in New Jersey, officials announced Wednesday.
Muhyyee-ud-din Abdul-Rahman, 19, was arrested in August 2023 after investigators intercepted electronic communications that he’d allegedly exchanged with terrorist organizations in Syria.
Abdul-Rahman, who was 17 at the time, was interviewed by police and “admitted his intent to assist terrorists overseas as a bombmaker,” according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
After reviewing his internet history, investigators found Abdul-Rahman was particularly interested in the dates and times of local parades, including the Philadelphia Pride Parade.
They also uncovered evidence of his hatred for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as indications that he was considering targeting critical infrastructure in the region, including power plants and domestic military bases.
On Wednesday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said at a news conference that Abdul-Rahman was found guilty of building and possessing explosives. He was also convicted of plotting attacks on multiple targets, including the Philadelphia Pride Parade, a historically Black university, the Army-Navy football game, the Valley Forge Military Academy and nuclear power plants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
“This individual had a grievance against homosexuality,” First Assistant District Attorney Robert Listenbee told reporters. “He asked the question in one of his [internet] searches, ‘What is the punishment for homosexuality in Sharia law?’” he said.
“He then also indicated in a statement that he felt that the homosexual agenda in the United States was too extensive, along with some of the conservative agendas of the Proud Boys and others. He indicated all along that he wanted to become a bomber, no question about it,” Listenbee said.
Last year, the DA’s office announced that the then-18-year-old would be prosecuted as an adult, “due to overwhelming evidence … indicating that he intended to cause a mass casualty event.”
Abdul-Rahman is being held on $5 million bond, officials said. He faces 24 to 48 years in prison.
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