Tarek Mehanna, known as the “Massachusetts man“, was arrested and charged for conspiring with two other men to provide support to terrorists and killing two US politicians. Mehanna, along with an American in Syria and another who is cooperating with the authorities, tried to get into terrorist training camps. When the Massachusetts man and his cohorts failed, they plotted to kill two prominent U.S. politicians and shoot people at American shopping malls.

Massachusetts man Tarek Mehanna planned to kill US politicians

Fortunately, Massachusetts man Mehanna and his cohorts never made it into the terrorist training camps. They were said to be rejected because of their nationality, ethnicity, or inexperience. They pulled out the mall attack when their weapons contact could not offer them automatic weapons and only had handguns.

Massachusetts man Tarek Mehanna and the two used code words for their planned terrorist plot. “Peanut butter and jelly” meant fighting in Somalia while “culinary school” meant terrorist camps. The terrorist trio also reportedly talked about their desire to “die on the battlefield”.

Mehanna, who taught math and religion at Alhuda Academy, refused to stand to hear the charge against him in court. The Massachusetts man only did so when his father urged him to. Mehanna, however, tossing the chair loudly to the floor.

Ahmed Mehanna, the father of Massachusetts man Tarek Mehanna, does not believe the charges against his son and stated:

“This really, really is a show.”

The three were said to have justified their planned attacks on US malls because US civilians pay taxes to support the US government. US civilians were also thought to be “nonbelievers.”

Massachusetts man Tarek Mehanna, who has a doctorate degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston, allegedly conspired with Ahmad Abousamra, the American in Syria.