'Isis supporter' arrested for plotting Christmas bombing of San Francisco
A discharged Marine has been arrested for allegedly planning to bomb a busy San Francisco tourist destination over Christmas in the name of Isis.
In an affidavit, an FBI agent who built the case against Everitt Aaron Jameson describes how the suspect “espoused radical jihadi beliefs”, liking pro-Isis posts and eagerly communicating with undercover agents he believed to be representatives of Isis.
He has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.
“Today, our incredible law enforcement officers have once again helped thwart an alleged plot to kill Americans,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.
After suggesting to an undercover agent “something along the lines of New York or San Bernardino”, an apparent reference to a pair of terrorist attacks conducted by Isis sympathisers, Mr Jameson suggested planting a bomb at Pier 39, according to the affidavit.
He allegedly targeted the destination “because he had been there before and knew that it was a heavily crowded area”, the affidavit says, and asked for bomb-making components and an assault rifle.
The affidavit also says he suggested Christmas Day and said he did not need an escape plan because he was prepared to die.
As he was communicating with the undercover agent and formulating plans for an attack, Mr Jameson reportedly showed that he believed he was in touch with Isis leadership. The agent represented himself as serving Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
According to the affidavit, when authorities conducted a search of Mr Jameson’s home they found a note that pledged fidelity to the terrorist cause and proclaimed “Long live Isil”.
“You’ve allowed Donald J Trump to give away Al Quds to the Jews,” the note allegedly said, using an Arabic name for Jerusalem, adding that “these acts will continue until the Lions of Islam overtake you”.
While the Marine Corps ultimately discharged Mr Jameson for failing to disclose that he suffered from asthma, he was still able to earn a sharpshooter qualification and offered his “expertise with rifle marksmanship” in a potential assault, according to the affidavit.
In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, the FBI’s regional office said “there is no specific or credible threat to the Bay Area”.
