Abdul Malik Abdul KareemPHOENIX – Prosecutors say a man charged with orchestrating a shootout at an anti-Islam event in Texas wanted to join Islamic State and attack the Super Bowl.
The revelation at a court hearing for Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem shows that the Phoenix-based plot extended beyond last month’s shootout at a Prophet Muhammad cartoon event in Texas that led to the deaths of two roommates.
Prosecutors portrayed Abdul Kareem as motivated to join the burgeoning Islamic State movement as the terrorist group rampaged through the Middle East and gained a large following on social media. They obtained their information from a confidential informant.
Prosecutor Kristen Brook called Abdul Kareem “off the charts dangerous.” Defense lawyer Daniel Maynard calls it a trumped-up case based largely on an unreliable snitch.
The magistrate denied bail for Abdul Kareem, who is charged with conspiracy, making false statements and interstate transportation of firearms with intent to commit a felony.