WASHINGTON POST.com - Blog - CRIME SCENE
Posted at 01:01 PM ET, 06/23/2011
[This post has been updated.]
By Allison Klein | 01:01 PM ET, 06/23/2011
“Marine reservist charged in D.C.-area military shootings”
By Allison Klein
SNIPPET: “A 22-year-old Alexandria man has been charged with shooting at military buildings in the D.C. region last fall, and federal officials said in court papers that he videotaped himself shouting “Allah Akbar” after he fired shots at the U.S. Marine Corps museum in October.
Yonathan Melaku, a Marine Reservist, was taken into custody Friday under suspicious circumstances at Arlington National Cemetery. He had been carrying a backpack that held plastic baggies with ammonium nitrate, a material that can be used to make a bomb, as well as a notebook that included references to Osama bin Laden and “The Path to Jihad.””
SNIPPET: “”Alright next time this video turns on, I will be shooting,” Melaku said on the video, court papers say. “That’s what they get. That’s my target. that’s the military building. It’s going to be attacked.””
Thursday, Jun. 23, 2011
“Alexandria man charged in Pentagon shooting
FBI: Marine Corps reservist also linked to vandalism in Quantico, Chantilly”
by Gregg Macdonald, Staff Writer
SNIPPET: “Melaku’s backpack allegedly contained potential bomb-making materials, spent 9 mm shell casings and hand-scrawled references to Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban and al-Qaida, according to a search warrant affidavit made public Thursday.
U.S. Park Police later questioned Melaku and identified what they described as two potentially dangerous items in his possession, as well as in a red 2011 Nissan found parked in a wooded area near the Pentagon directly off routes 27 and 110. The FBI removed the vehicle from the scene for further examination.
The materials in the backpack also are undergoing further testing at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, he said.”
SNIPPET: “A search warrant affidavit of Melaku’s Alexandria apartment claims that Melaku was in possession of several materials that are commonly used to make improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, as well as a video allegedly showing Melaku shooting a firearm out a car window near the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico. The affidavit says Melaku’s voice can be heard on the video saying: “Last time I hit them they turned off the lights for like four or five days. So here we go again; this time I’m going to turn it off permanently.””