A man from Illinois has been sentenced to prison for attempting to detonate a bomb in downtown Chicago, according to officials.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois on July 19, 2012, Adel Daoud attempted to detonate a car bomb weighing 1,000 pounds near a bar in downtown Chicago. Little did he know, the bomb was actually a fake one placed by FBI agents.
Back in May 2012, an 18-year-old Daoud started exchanging messages with two individuals online, expressing his desire to participate in violent jihad, as per a criminal complaint.
Unbeknownst to Daoud, the individuals he was conversing with were actually undercover FBI agents. They had been conducting an investigation on him after stumbling upon some of his online posts.
According to the complaint, Daoud sought guidance from two individuals on whether he should carry out a terrorist attack in the United States between May and June.
During the month of June, an undercover agent informed Daoud about a supposed “cousin” who was believed to be an active terrorist, according to the complaint. Daoud proceeded to have meetings with this individual, unaware that they were actually an additional undercover FBI agent.
According to court documents, during their communication, Daoud chose, investigated, and monitored a target for a terrorist attack in Chicago. The undercover agent, who posed as Daoud’s cousin, would provide the explosive device.
According to Quinn Michaelis, who was appointed as a standby attorney for Daoud, Adel was just a kid when the FBI initiated communication with him online. Adel was sheltered and had never experienced living outside of his parents’ home. The FBI introduced older men into his life, who wanted to have conversations with him and motivate his beliefs.
According to the complaint, on the day of the planned attack, Daoud met with an undercover agent and together they drove to downtown Chicago. There, Daoud retrieved a Jeep that contained a dud bomb. He proceeded to drive the Jeep to a nearby bar, parked it, and walked one block away.
Officials reported that Daoud made two attempts to detonate the explosive device before being apprehended.
According to Michaelis, if Adel’s case were to go to trial today, the jury would be more worried and disturbed about the FBI’s actions in this case than they would have been back in 2012. Michaelis also believes that the prosecution’s actions have further strengthened Adel’s belief about the government’s unfair treatment of Muslims, more so than anything he may have seen online before his arrest.
Officials reported that Daoud was initially handed a 16-year prison sentence in 2019. Nonetheless, the U.S. Attorney’s Office challenged the ruling, leading to a fresh sentencing hearing.
According to the documents, Daoud acted as his own representative during the appeals case. However, McClatchy News was unable to reach Daoud for a comment on the matter.
According to officials, while serving time in prison, Daoud was accused of seeking assistance from a fellow inmate to organize the murder of an undercover FBI agent who had investigated him. The individual he allegedly reached out to was believed to be a violent gang member. Fortunately, the plan did not come to fruition.
Officials have accused Daoud of assaulting a fellow inmate in 2015 over a drawing that he believed to be insulting to the prophet Mohammad. This marks the third case against Daoud.
Daoud has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly to 27 years in prison, which will be followed by a lifetime of court-supervised release.
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