A man who wanted to carry out a “violent jihad” was arrested after he agreed to obtain hand grenades from a government informant to try to blow up a shopping mall, the FBI said on Friday.

The announcement said Derrick Shareef, 22, of Rockford, Illinois, was under surveillance the entire time and did not pose a threat to public safety.

The FBI-led Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force said Shareef was charged with one count of attempting to damage or destroy a building by fire or explosion and one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. The FBI did not say if he was a U.S. citizen.

Bush’s poll numbers hit new record lows and out come the terrorism frame-ups…

An affidavit released by the FBI said Shareef, also known as Talib Abu Salam Ibn Shareef, became acquainted with the informant in September of 2006 and told him he wanted to kill a judge, among other crimes.

He said he “wanted to commit acts of violent jihad against targets in the United States as well as commit crimes in order to obtain funds to further his goals of violent jihad,” the affidavit said.

In a videotape made right before he planned to put hand grenades in garbage cans at a shopping mall, he said he might be giving his last will and testament.

“I am from America and this tape is to let you guys know, who believe in Allah, to let the enemies of Islam know, and to let the Muslims alike know that the time for jihad is now … be strong, oh Mujahideen … May Allah protect me on this mission we conduct,” he said, according to the affidavit.

The FBI said he agreed to give the informant his stereo speakers in exchange for a gun and four grenades, which he did not know had been deactivated. He was arrested after the transaction earlier this week.

“While these are very serious charges, at no time was the public in any imminent peril as a result of the defendant’s activities,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, U.S attorney in Chicago.

The intended target was the CherryVale Shopping Mall, near the junction of Interstate 90 and Interstate 39 on the east side of Rockford. The mall has about 130 retail stores and is owned by CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Source: Reuters