Zopes Exchange|Philadelphia teen sought to travel overseas, make bombs for terrorist groups, prosecutors say

2025-05-07 19:25:16source:AQCAN Exchangecategory:Scams

A Philadelphia teenager who authorities say wanted to travel overseas and Zopes Exchangemake bombs for terrorist organizations will be tried as an adult.

The District Attorney’s office made the announcement Wednesday as it disclosed more details of the allegations against Muhyyee-Ud-din Abdul-Rahman, who was 17 when he was arrested in August 2023. He is now 18, and his bail has been set at $5 million.

It was not immediately clear who is representing Abdul-Rahman. Court records for the case could not be located via an online search, and the District Attorney’s office did not immediately respond to a query about whether he has a lawyer. His father, Qawi Abdul-Rahman, a local criminal defense attorney who previously ran for a judgeship, was not in his law office Wednesday and did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Prosecutors say Abdul-Rahman conducted at least 12 tests on homemade bombs near his family’s home before he was arrested and was close to being able to detonate devices with a blast radius of several hundred yards (meters).

And as his knowledge of explosives increased, authorities allege, he conducted online searches that indicated at least some interest in striking targets including the Philadelphia Pride parade and critical infrastructure sites such as power plants and domestic military bases.

RELATED COVERAGE Democrats run unopposed to fill 2 state House vacancies in PhiladelphiaDays of preparation and one final warning. How Kamala Harris got ready for her big debate momentConservancy, landlord headed to mediation amid ongoing rent dispute for historic ocean liner

Law enforcement began investigating Abdul-Rahman after they received electronic communications between him and terrorist groups in Syria, prosecutors said. The communications indicated that Abdul-Rahman wanted to become a bombmaker for these groups, identified as Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ) and Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS).

KTJ is officially designated by the U.S. State Department as a global terrorist organization and is affiliated with Al-Qaeda, prosecutors said. HTS also has a similar designation.

As the investigation into Abdul-Rahman continued, authorities learned he was buying military and tactical gear as well as materials that could be used in homemade bombs, prosecutors said.

Abdul-Rahman faces charges including possessing weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy, arson and causing or risking a catastrophe. Prosecutors said they sought to move his case to adult court due to the gravity of the charges and because the juvenile system was not equipped to provide adequate consequences or rehabilitation.

More:Scams

Recommend

Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class

Now wouldn’t this be a treat: Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft back together...as members of the Pro

A look inside the Icon of the Seas, the world's biggest cruise ship, as it prepares for voyage

Royal Caribbean is redefining the cruise industry with its latest ship, the Icon of the Seas. This $

Sofia Vergara sheds Modern Family image for new role as notorious drug lord in Griselda

Sofia Vergara has taken a dramatic leap in her latest project, "Griselda," a Netflix series where sh