Judge says suspected terrorist must remain in jail

Mother had sought to watch over refugee ISIS supporter at her home

An accused terrorist’s mother said she was willing to watch over her son pending his trial, but a federal judge ruled Friday that because evidence shows he plotted to bomb a church while living in her house, he should remain locked up.

U. S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Reed Eddy agreed with the U. S. attorney’s office and the pre- trial services office that Mustafa Alowemer is a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Mr. Alowemer, a 21- year- old Syrian refugee and Brashear High School graduate, is accused of planning to bomb a Nigerian church on the North Side in the name of ISIS.

His mother, Fatmeh, speaking in Arabic, testified through an interpreter that her son is a good student who graduated high school in just three years and drove his siblings and neighbors in Northview Heights to and from school.

She also presented an 81- name petition signed by her friends and neighbors, some of whom appeared in the gallery, vouching for Mr. Alowemer as a caring young man who would’t hurt anyone.

“He was very compassionate to all of us,” she said of his role as a caretaker after the family fled the Syrian war in 2013 for Jordan and then came to the U. S. in 2016.

Mr. Alowemer’s public defender, Andrew Lipson, said that his mother could serve as his custodian and turn him in should he violate any court rules.

But Soo Song, the prosecutor, said Mr. Alowemer had set in motion a detailed plan to bomb the church with the help of two co- plotters who turned out to be FBI agents. She said he had expressed “lethal and toxic” animus toward Shia Muslims, Christians, Jews, Nigerians, the U. S. military and other groups.

Ms. Song said he had planned the bombing attack while living under his mother’s roof, so she’s not equipped to keep him out of trouble.

“We just don’t think that she can assure the safety of the community,” she said.

The judge agreed, and U. S. marshals took Mr. Alowemer back to jail.

He was initially accused in a complaint in June and then indicted later on counts of plotting to blow up Legacy International

Worship Center on the North Side.

The grand jury charged him with one count of providing material support to a terrorist organization, meaning ISIS, and two counts of distributing materials pertaining to weapons of mass destruction.

The FBI said he pledged obedience to ISIS in a videotaped ceremony played in court in June and again on Friday, and he allegedly planned to use a backpack bomb to blow up the church on Wilson Avenue.

FBI Agent Gary Morgan said Mr. Alowemer also planned to plant a second bomb to kill “infidel police” as they responded to the blast. Mr. Alowemer did not express any concern, Agent Morgan said, when one of the undercover agents told him a bomb big enough to blow up the church would also kill people who live near the church.

He said Mr. Alowemer made elaborate arrangements to carry out the attack. Mr. Alowemer had also indicated he wanted to kill himself, the agent said, so he has been on a suicide watch while in U. S. custody. Mr. Alowemer’s ultimate goal, the agent said, was to return to Syria and die fighting for ISIS.

In a recording Mr. Alowemer recites a chant in Arabic expressing that hope, singing, “I am waiting for paradise.”