Usaamah Rahim, the suspected terrorist who authorities say wanted to behead a police officer, talked openly with a second suspect about his deadly plans shortly before he was killed in a disputed encounter with cops and FBI agents in Boston on Tuesday.
An FBI agent's affidavit, released Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office, contains details from interviews with David Wright, the second man in the failed plot. As recently as Sunday, Rahim and Wright met on a Rhode Island beach with another man to discuss the beheading of someone other than an officer, according to the affidavit. CNN and ABC News reported the initial target was conservative blogger Pamela Geller who recently organized a controversial contest in Texas to draw the Islamic prophet Muhammed as a cartoon.
Rahim acquired knives for the plot recently, the FBI said. On May 25, the affidavit said, he purchased a Marine Raider Bowie knife with a blade of nearly 10 inches that he called a "nice little tool." The FBI intercepted the package to X-ray it before allowing it to reach Rahim, the affidavit said. He ordered two more long-bladed knives from Amazon on May 27.
His plan was abruptly shelved early Tuesday, shortly before Rahim, 26, was fatally shot multiple times after brandishing knives at law enforcement, according to a portion of a recorded phone call with Wright excerpted in the affidavit.
"I can't wait that long" Rahim allegedly said about the earlier plans.
Speaking in code, Wright questioned Rahim about his new intentions, according to the transcript of the call.
WRIGHT: Oh, oh wait a minute, oh ah, you are going to be, ah, you’re attempting to go on vacation I see.
RAHIM: Yeah, I’m going to be on vacation right here in Massachusetts ... I’m just going to ah go after them, those boys in blue. Cause, ah, it’s the easiest target and, ah, the most common is the easiest for me ...
Going on vacation means waging jihad, according to an FBI agent on the case.
Wright, who also goes by the name Dawud Sharif Abdul Khaliq, advised Rahim to destroy his cellphone and "wipe out" his laptop to delete records mentioning the plot.
Soon after the monitored call, Boston police officers and FBi agents approached Rahim on a city street. FBI Special Agent Joseph Galietta swore that officers ordered Rahim to drop his weapons before authorities opened fire.
Wright was arrested soon after that and accused of conspiracy. He faces a maximum five years in prison if convicted, according to CNN.
Rahim's brother claimed Rahim was on the phone with their father when police shot him in the back. Some clergy and civic leaders disputed the claim after officials showed them video footage of the shooting, CNN said. One said the video was inconclusive.
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