New Jersey Man, 42, Is Arrested For 'Conducting Intelligence-Gathering Operations For Terrorist Group Hezbollah In Times Square, Boston's Fenway Park And The Capitol Building In Washington D.C.'
September 19, 2019
A New Jersey man has been accused of conducting intelligence-gathering operations for Hezbollah including in Times Square, Boston's Fenway Park and The Capitol building in Washington D.C.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Alexei Saab, 42, of Morristown was charged Thursday in a nine-count indictment for offenses related to his support for the terrorist outfit and separate marriage-fraud offenses.
He is alleged to have joined Hezbollah in 1996 before lawfully entering the US using a Lebanese passport in 2000 and becoming a naturalized citizen in 2008.
Locations including the United Nations headquarters, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and local airports, tunnels, and bridges are said to have been under his surveillance.
And Saab, arrested on July 9, is said to have provided detailed information on these locations to Hezbollah, including photographs and their structural weaknesses.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said: 'According to the allegations, while living in the United States, Saab served as an operative of Hizballah and conducted surveillance of possible target locations in order to help the foreign terrorist organization prepare for potential future attacks against the United States.
'Such covert activities conducted on U.S. soil are a clear threat to our national security and I applaud the agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this investigation and prosecution.'
Locations in Boston and Washington are also said to have been targeted by Saab, who authorities say has extensive firearms and bomb-making training.
He is even said to have attempted to murder a suspected Israeli spy but failed when the gun failed to go off twice, officials said.
'As a member of the Hizballah component that coordinates external terrorist attack planning, Alexei Saab allegedly used his training to scout possible targets throughout the U.S,' said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman.
'Even though Saab was a naturalized American citizen, his true allegiance was to Hizballah, the terrorist organization responsible for decades of terrorist attacks that have killed hundreds, including U.S. citizens and military personnel. Thankfully, Saab is now in federal custody, and faces significant prison time for his alleged crimes.'
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: 'As alleged, Saab began his training with Hizballah operatives overseas and, while living in the U.S., surveilled multiple locations in major cities.'
'I would like to thank the efforts of the investigators and our Counter-Terrorism law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to assemble the case that prevents this individual from caring out his plans,' said NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill. 'This case sends a clear message of deterrence to all those who plot to promote violence here in the U.S. and abroad.'
Saab, also known as Ali Hassan Saab, Alex Saab, or Rachid, is charged with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
He is also charged with receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to receive military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization to facilitate an act of international terrorism and marriage fraud conspiracy.
Other charges include citizenship application fraud, naturalization fraud and making false statements.