FBI officials announced Tuesday they have arrested a Milwaukee man accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Masonic temple.
Samy Mohammed Hamzeh, 23, has been charged with possessing machine guns and a silencer, a local Fox affiliate reported.
“Samy Mohammed Hamzeh devised a detailed plan to commit a mass shooting intended to kill dozens of people. He also said that he wanted this mass shooting to be ’known the world over’ and to ’ignite’ broader clashes,” Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory Haanstad said in a statement.
“It is difficult to calculate the injury and loss of life that was prevented by concerned citizens coming forward and by the tireless efforts of the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force,” Mr. Haanstad said.
According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Hamzeh had been under investigation since Sept. 2015. Investigators discovered that in Oct. 2015, Mr. Hamzeh had planned to travel to Jordan, enter the West Bank, and conduct an attack on Israeli soldiers and citizens living.
However, he later abandoned those plans and shifted his focus toward an attack in the U.S., according to the criminal complaint reviewed by Fox.
Mr. Hamzeh then engaged in conversations with two confidential sources, which were recorded by the FBI.
During these conversations he revealed his plans to commit an act of domestic violence and had settled on a Masonic temple in Milwaukee as his target.
Mr. Hamzeh and the two confidential sources went to a shooting range last week and then took a tour of the Masonic temple, during which they learned meeting schedules and other details about the temple’s inner workings.
In a conversation after the tour, Mr. Hamzeh reportedly said he would buy two machine guns and suppressors to carry out the attack and discussed his motives for the mass shooting with the sources.
“I am telling you, if this hit is executed, it will be known all over the world. … Sure, all over the world, all the Mujahedeen will be talking and they will be proud of us. … Such operations will increase in America, when they hear about it,” Mr. Hamzeh said in one of the recorded conversations, Fox reported.
He hoped to kill at least 30 people in the attack.
“Thirty is excellent. If I got out, after killing thirty people, I will be happy 100%. … 100% happy, because these 30 will terrify the world,” Mr. Hamzeh was recorded saying.
He then made plans to purchase two machine guns from two individuals who, unbeknownst to Mr. Hamez, were undercover FBI agents. After the transaction was made, the agents arrested Mr. Hamez.
In a statement, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Robert Shields said the public was not in danger and commended the FBI for preventing a potential attack.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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