A man from Burke, Virginia was arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State on Friday after photographing government landmarks to encourage lone wolf attacks in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area.
The FBI set up a sting operation during which an informant filmed Haris Qamar, 25, marking targets, including the Pentagon, for terrorist attacks, according to the Department of Justice.
The informant recorded Qamar allegedly saying "bye, bye D.C. … kill ‘em all" as they drove by various landmarks. Qamar reportedly told the informant that the photographs could be used in an ISIS video to inspire attacks on the nation’s capital. He also told the informant that he hates America and gets a "burning sensation in my body because this place is so disgusting," the affidavit says.
Qamar came to the attention of the FBI through Twitter posts supporting ISIS and by sharing videos of beheadings and mass shootings, according to court records. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Qamar attempted to join ISIS in 2014 but was prevented from leaving the U.S. after his parents took his passport. He called his father a "traitor" to Islam.
This arrest comes three days after another man from Northern Virginia, Mohamed Jalloh, 26, of Sterling was charged for allegedly trying to support ISIS.