[FoxNews] Suspect intended to detonate a chlorine bomb before opening fire on moviegoers, according to federal agents
The FBI and law enforcement officials in Columbia County, Oregon, arrested a teenager late last month who was allegedly planning to carry out a mass shooting involving explosives at a Washington state shopping mall.
In a news release Thursday, the FBI said the teen, whose name was not released, was arrested May 22 by deputies with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
The FBI learned of "detailed and imminent" attack plans after they were reported to the agency just two days before the juvenile’s arrest.
After learning about the alleged planned attack, the FBI said it began working with its partners to identify the mastermind behind the threat. On May 20, the Columbia County teenager was identified as a suspect.
According to the FBI, the teenager shared nihilistic violent extremist ideology,
as well as the plans, in online chats.
The teenager was placed under court-authorized surveillance out of caution for the public, and, on May 22, a federal search warrant was executed, leading to the teen’s arrest.
The FBI said the suspect demonstrated the intention and means to carry out a plan that included details like the map of the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, located more than two hours south of Seattle, and a route to follow.
"This plot was as serious as it gets," FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson said. "We, along with our partners, moved swiftly to interrupt this violent plan and to protect our community."
While the FBI made initial contact with the teenager, the local sheriff’s office made the arrest on state charges.
The Columbia County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the case.
The FBI said it encourages the public to report suspicious behavior to law enforcement, adding that parents are also encouraged to engage in open dialog with their children about their online activity.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed due to their age, allegedly planned to detonate a chlorine bomb to create chaos and panic before shooting fleeing patrons exiting a movie theater, the FBI Portland Field Office said in a statement.
According to FBI research of past violent actors, nihilistic ideation refers to a “preoccupation with themes of violence, hopelessness, despair, pessimism, hatred, isolation, loneliness, or an ‘end-of-the-world’ philosophy,” said retired senior FBI profiler Dr. Mary Ellen O’Toole. “Nihilistic ideation is a very pessimistic view of the world.”
The FBI said the plan included details on the use of an improvised explosive device, a specific route through the mall, and a sequence of actions culminating in the suspect’s planned suicide at the mall.
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