Alexander Ciccolo, the 23-year-old who was arrested on gun charges and found to have possible bomb-making equipment in his Massachusetts apartment, was in court today for a detention hearing. As Twitchy reported, Ciccolo, the estranged son of a Boston police captain, recently converted to Islam and now goes by the name Abu Ali al-Amriki.
WCBV reports that Ciccolo told an FBI informant he intended to travel to another state and use pressure cooker bombs in attacks on civilians, the military and law enforcement, but changed his mind and decided to target an unspecified university “because there were many more people.”
In court, Ciccolo, who told the FBI he was “inspired” by the Boston Marathon bombing, made no secret of his ideological ties with ISIS.
Ciccolo is in court for a detention hearing – the judge will decide whether he should remain locked up. #wcvb
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) July 14, 2015
US Attorney Carmen Ortiz just arrived in court for Alexander Ciccolo hearing. He's accused of planning ISIS inspired terrorism plot. #wbz
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) July 14, 2015
Alexander Ciccolo's relatives mouthed "I love you" as he walked into court, appearing confused before he found them in the crowd. #wbz
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) July 14, 2015
Prosecutors want to play 9 minutes of a recorded interview with Ciccolo after his arrest. FBI interviewed him for 1 hr and 45 minutes #wcvb
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) July 14, 2015
Agent: "What are your feelings about the Islamic state?" Alexander Ciccolo: "There can be nothing else." Statement to FBI after arrest #wbz
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) July 14, 2015
A. Ciccolo in post-arrest interview to FBI on the subject of ISIS/ISIL: "They're freeing people from oppression, changing things finally…"
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) July 14, 2015
Alex Ciccolo asked about ISIS beheading people: "The people you see being executed are criminals. Criminals. The lowest of the low" #wcvb
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) July 14, 2015
FBI agent: "In your mind, is all the United States an enemy?" Alexander Ciccolo: "Yea. It's unjust." From recorded post-arrest interview.
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) July 14, 2015
"He developed a hatred of America and that hatred deepened and deepened…to the most unimaginable status." Pros. Kevin O'Regan on A.Ciccolo
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) July 14, 2015
Ciccolo's attorney asking judge to release him to his mother and step-father "Mr Ciccolo is extraordinarily close to his mother." #wcvb
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) July 14, 2015
Ciccolo's attorney is asking for him to have electronic monitoring and not be allowed to leave his mother's house in remove area #wcvb
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) July 14, 2015
Judge says Cicollo was clear, orally and online, that he intended to use the guns for a terrorist attack. #wcvb
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) July 14, 2015
Judge discusses Ciccolo's his beliefs, intentions, and the attack on the nurse and orders him detained pending trial. #wcvb
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) July 14, 2015
Judge orders Alexander Ciccolo remain in custody until trial.
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) July 14, 2015
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