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 (Harris kumm-AHR) 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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