Pakistani-American Arrested Over DC ‘Terror Plot’

Neighbors, Friends Shocked by Claims Against Former Ericsson Employee

US officials have arrested 34-year-old Farooque Ahmed, a Pakistani-born US citizen who lives in Ashburn, Virginia, on terrorism charges involving what the FBI says was a plot to launch “simultaneous bomb attacks” against railway targets across Washington DC. This included multiple targets near the Pentagon.

Officials say Ahmed was dealing with what he believed were al-Qaeda operatives, but were actually people working for the US government, who turned him in. He was also accused of offering to donate $10,000 to overseas militant groups.

Ahmed, who works as a Network Planning Engineer for Ericsson, was also said to be pursuing a master’s degree in risk management. Neighbors expressed shock at the news of his arrest, with most describing him as friendly, albeit distant.

His wife was also said to be part of a group called “Hip Muslim Moms,” and both were by all accounts ordinary Americans. This must inevitably draw comparisons to failed Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad, who was himself described as a not particularly religious accountant living in New England.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.