Man charged with marking targets in DC for Islamic State

Published: Updated:
MGN Online

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) – A Virginia man has been charged with attempting to assist the Islamic State by photographing targets in the Washington, D.C., area for what he thought would be a terrorist attack.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said 25-year-old Haris Qamar of Burke was arrested Friday morning. Court records say he came to authorities’ attention through various Twitter posts supporting terrorist attacks.

According to an affidavit, the FBI set up a sting operation where Qamar worked with an informant last month to film landmarks, including the Pentagon, that could be targeted for attacks. The informant recorded Qamar saying “bye-bye DC” as he filmed the Pentagon.

Qamar is the second person charged this week at the Alexandria courthouse with attempting to support the Islamic State.

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