Authorities say 23-year-old Alexander Ciccolo illegally purchased four guns and planned a terror attack. (Photo: Department of Justice)
A Boston police captain reported his son who apparently planning a horrific attack on a local college prior to his arrest on July 4, according to authorities. The DOJ’s complaint affidavit alleges 23-year-old Alexander Ciccolo, who also went by the name Ali Al Amriki, purchased a pressure cooker at Walmart before taking possession of “four firearms which he had ordered from a person who was cooperating with members of the Western Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force.”
After noticing suspicious behavior, Ciccolo’s father reported his son to the authorities, who had learned in the fall of 2014 he wanted to travel overseas to fight alongside the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL) because he believed that his “faith is under attack” and that he was “not afraid to die for the cause.”
Ciccolo was arrested for the purchase of unlawful weapons — including a .223 Colt AR-15 rifle, 556 Sig Arms SG550 rifle, 9mm Glock 17 handgun and 10mm Glock 20 handgun — that’s not all the Islamic State supporter had in mind.
“On July 3, 2015, after his trip to Walmart the defendant communicated again with CW-1 via an instant messaging chat,” the documents state. “During the chat, the defendant told CW-1 that he had purchased a pressure cooker: ‘Allahu Akbar!!![Arabic phrase for God is great] … I got the pressure cookers today. Alhamdulillah.’ The defendant also said that he had already made ten firebombs.”
Indeed, during a search of the residence, authorities located “several” incendiary devices that contained a mixture of oil and styrofoam, which Ciccolo said was designed “to stick to people’s skin and make it harder to put the fire out.” The search also turned up two machetes and a large knife, one similar to the ISIS-preferred weapon for decapitation.
Authorities he posted about martyrdom on Facebook multiple times, expressing a desire to set off an explosive device “in places where large numbers of people congregate, such as college cafeterias.”
The Ciccolo family released a statement Monday thanking authorities for preventing any casualties and asking the public for privacy.
“While we were saddened and disappointed to learn of our son’s intentions, we are grateful that authorities were able to prevent any loss of life or harm to others. At this time, we would ask that the public and the media recognize our grief and respect our desire for privacy,” the statement read.
“According to a close acquaintance, the defendant had a long history of mental illness and in the last 18 months had become obsessed with Islam,” the Justice Department’s detention memo stated, adding a history of alcohol abuse.
While Ciccolo first planned to attack members of the military and law enforcement personnel, as the Islamic State suggests and prefers, he changed his target to an unidentified university in another state, where the attack could be broadcast live online. He allegedly wanted to complete his attack no later than July 31 and, though was waiting until he explored exit plans, was aware he could be killed in the operation.
“We win or we die,” he’s quoted as saying in the detention memo.
