3 Kansas men charged with terror plot targeting Somali community
(KMSP) - Three Kansas men have been charged with domestic terrorism for a plot to bomb an apartment building that’s home to a large Somali-American population. Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall and FBI Special Agent Eric Jackson said the charges follow an 8-month investigation by the FBI that took agents “deep into a hidden culture of hatred and violence.”
“They stockpiled firearms, ammunition and explosive components,” Beall said. “They even prepared a manifesto describing their beliefs to be published after the bombing.”
Curtis Allen, Patrick Stein and Gavin Wright were part of a small group calling themselves "The Crusaders" and the "Kansas Security Force." The U.S. Attorney said one of the men said the bombing of the Garden City, Kansas building would “wake people up.”
The defendants allegedly conducted surveillance on potential targets, including public officials and churches that supported the Muslim and Somali community. The men allegedly planned to fill 4 vehicles with explosives and detonate them at the apartment complex.
The plot was thwarted when a meeting was arranged Wednesday between Patrick Stein and a confidential FBI source. During that meeting, the source showed Stein automatic weapons. Stein then took the FBI source to the location they were targeting.
Beall said the suspects were arrested Friday morning.