PITTSBURGH, PA – Mustafa Mousab Alowemer, 23, of Pittsburgh, has confessed to a chilling plot to unleash terror on a local church, pledging allegiance to the brutal Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Alowemer pleaded guilty today to one count of attempting to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organization. The revelation exposes a homegrown threat simmering beneath the surface of the Steel City.
According to court documents, Alowemer wasn’t just spouting rhetoric; he was actively building a plan to bomb a church on Pittsburgh’s north side. His twisted motivation? To support ISIS’s violent agenda and inspire other radicalized individuals within the United States to carry out similar attacks. The target wasn’t chosen randomly either – Alowemer explicitly stated his intent was to “take revenge for our [ISIS] brothers in Nigeria,” laying bare a disturbing international dimension to his local plot. He fully understood the potential for mass casualties, acknowledging that numerous people could be killed by his intended explosion.
The FBI, through a complex operation involving undercover employees and confidential human sources, managed to infiltrate Alowemer’s network before he could act. In May 2019, Alowemer began distributing instructional documents detailing the construction of explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to someone he believed was a fellow ISIS sympathizer. It was, in reality, an FBI employee. This wasn’t idle curiosity; Alowemer intended for this information to be used to build a destructive device. The following month, he began purchasing materials – nails and acetone, commonly known as nail polish remover – believing they were essential components of the bomb he planned to detonate.
The investigation deepened through a series of meetings between Alowemer and FBI personnel. Over four encounters between April and June 2019, Alowemer not only detailed his bomb plot but physically handed over the materials he’d acquired, including boxes of nails, intended for use in the construction of the device. This wasn’t a vague threat; it was a concrete, developing plan with tangible steps being taken. Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark J. Lesko of the Justice Department’s National Security Division emphasized that Alowemer will be held accountable for his actions, reaffirming the Department’s commitment to disrupting and prosecuting individuals who seek to inflict violence.
“Inspired by ISIS, Mustafa Alowemer devised and intended to carry out a deadly attack on a house of worship and its congregation,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The tireless work of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, prevented Alowemer from turning his hateful ideology into a horrific reality. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups and the crucial role law enforcement plays in safeguarding communities.
While the specifics of Alowemer’s sentencing remain to be determined, his guilty plea signals a significant victory for national security agencies. The case highlights the evolving nature of terrorist threats, where radicalization can occur within domestic borders and individuals can pose a danger to their own communities. The investigation continues, authorities say, to identify any potential co-conspirators or further threats linked to Alowemer’s network. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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