New York Daily News

Feds: Terror followers eyed targets

- BY LEONARD GREENE

Trump Tower and the New York Stock Exchange were among several sites targeted for attack by a pair of American ISIS loyalists who said their terrorist deeds would give them “rock star status,” federal officials said Friday.

Strikes against the high profile targets like the White House and government buildings housing the CIA and FBI would be “Netflix worthy,” and would “send a message,” the plotters wrote in chat groups monitored by federal agents.

Both suspects were arrested — one in Texas, and the other in Tennessee.

“Let it be clear, I am against America,” wrote Jaylyn Christophe­r Molina, a Texas man and ISIS sympathize­r. “America is my enemy.”

Molina, who referred to himself as “Abdur Rahim,” was arrested by the FBI in San Antonio last week. He is expected to appear in federal court there early next week.

His alleged co-conspirato­r, Kristopher­Sean Matthews,said in chats that they should “hit government centers” rather than places “like malls where innocent children are,” according to court documents filed in Texas.

“This could be Netflix worthy,” Matthews wrote in the chat group, according to a federal criminal complaint.

“I would hit places like that to send a message. In my opinion if you really want to do some damage and make a statement I would have a team … have a 3 to 4 man team and everyone spreads out … hit different sides then ‘boom’ engulf them.”

Matthews, a South Carolina resident who was arrested last week in Tennessee, referred to himself as “Ali Jibreel,” and used an encrypted messaging app last year to try to find an ISIS facilitato­r outside the U.S. to help him travel to Syria and recruit additional members, according to the complaint.

The FBI used undercover agents and confidenti­al sources to track down the pair. They are accused of conspiring to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organizati­on, federal officials said.

If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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