Muslim immigrant from Kosovo arrested in jihad plot on Tampa Bay nightclubs, bridge

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He wanted to attack places with large numbers of people Americans and thought military sites would be too difficult so chose civilian sites. He also wanted all non-Muslims to convert to Islam.

More: Man charged with Tampa car bomb plot

TAMPA – A chilling terrorist plot ended with the weekend arrest of a 25-year-old immigrant from Kosovo, FBI agents say. Sami Osmakac allegedly told undercover investigators that he wanted to “die the Islamic way” after attacking locations in Ybor City and South Tampa.

According to the FBI, Osmakac is a naturalized U.S. citizen who now lives in Pinellas Park. Agents were tipped off to the possible plot in September.

The five-month investigation culminated with a sting operation on Saturday. Osmakac was arrested after he allegedly took possession of explosives and firearms that had been rendered inoperable by law enforcement.

Among Osmakac’s alleged bomb targets were nightclubs in the Ybor City area of Tampa, the operations center of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Ybor City, and a business in the South Tampa area.

As part of the second portion of his planned attack, Osmakac allegedly told the undercover FBI employee that, after the car bomb was detonated, he wanted to wear an explosive belt and “get in somewhere where there’s a lot of people” and take hostages.

“Once I have this…they can take me in five million pieces,” he allegedly added, in an apparent reference to a suicide blast.

Osmakac’s family, however, denied the allegations. His father, who owns the Balkan Food Store & Bakery in St. Petersburg, told FOX 13 his son had become more religious recently, but insisted he had no weapons.

He did confirm that federal agents had searched his home over the weekend.

According to the FBI, the plot unfolded through several meetings with undercover sources and agents:

• September: FBI agents receive information from a confidential human source indicating that Osmakac had asked for al-Qaeda flags.
• November: Osmakac and the FBI source discuss and identify potential targets in Tampa. Osmakac allegedly asks the source for help in obtaining firearms and explosives for the attacks.
• December 21: Osmakac tells an undercover FBI employee that he wants an AK-47-style machine gun, Uzi submachine guns, high capacity magazines, grenades, and an explosive belt. Allegedly, he later makes a $500 down payment.
• January 1: Osmakac allegedly outlines his attack. He wants to get a hotel room; park a vehicle with a bomb in it at his target, leave the area, detonate the car bomb, and then retrieve weapons and explosives from the hotel room.

It was during that New Year’s Day meeting when the undercover FBI employee noted that Osmakac could change his mind and back out of the plot. According to investigators, Osmakac immediately shook his head and said, “We all have to die, so why not die the Islamic way?”

Saturday, FBI agents arrested Osmakac after he took possession of the explosive devices and firearms, which had been neutralized without his knowledge.

Investigators also say Osmakac made a video of himself explaining his motives for carrying out the planned attack.  They did not divulge details about the message, but other videos posted online show a man who appears to be Osmakac railing against infidels and even assaulting members of the outspoken Westboro Baptist Church.

Osmakac faces one charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. He made his first appearance in federal court Monday afternoon.

FBI Press Release, Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa:

According to the complaint affidavit, in Sept. 2011, the FBI received information from a confidential human source (CHS) indicating that Osmakac had asked for al Qaeda flags. In November 2011, Osmakac and the CHS discussed and identified potential targets, in Tampa, where Osmakac intended on carrying out violent attacks. Osmakac allegedly asked the CHS for help in obtaining firearms and explosives for the attacks. The CHS indicated that he/she knew someone who might be able to provide firearms and explosives and introduced Osmakac to an undercover FBI employee.

The complaint alleges that Osmakac met with the undercover FBI employee, in person, on Dec. 21, 2011, and stated that he wished to acquire an AK-47-style machine gun, Uzi submachine guns, high capacity magazines, grenades and an explosive belt. In a subsequent meeting, Osmakac allegedly provided the undercover FBI employee with a $500 down payment for an AK-47, multiple homemade explosive grenades and the explosive belt.

According to the complaint, Osmakac also asked the undercover employee whether he/she could build bombs that could be placed in three different vehicles and detonated remotely, near where Osmakac would conduct a follow-up attack using the other weapons he requested. The undercover employee said he/she could possibly provide explosives for one vehicle. Osmakac also allegedly said that he wanted an explosive belt constructed to kill people.

During a subsequent meeting with the FBI undercover employee on Jan. 1, 2012, Osmakac allegedly described his attack plans by stating that he wanted to obtain a hotel room; park the vehicle with the bomb in it at his target; leave the area; detonate the car bomb; and then retrieve the weapons and explosives from the hotel room. Among Osmakac’s alleged bomb targets were night clubs in the Ybor City area of Tampa, the operations center of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Ybor City and a business in the South Tampa area of Tampa.

The complaint alleges that, as part of the second portion of his planned attack, Osmakac told the undercover FBI employee that, after the car bomb was detonated, he wanted to use the explosive belt to “get in somewhere where there’s a lot of people” and take hostages. He allegedly stated that he would then make demands of the FBI to release some prisoners. According to the criminal complaint, when discussing law enforcement officers that might respond to the scene, Osmakac allegedly stated, “once I have this . . . they can take me in five million pieces” in an apparent reference to the explosive belt that would be attached to his waist.

During the Jan. 1st meeting, the undercover FBI employee noted that Osmakac could change his mind and back out of the plot. According to the complaint, Osmakac immediately shook his head in the negative and stated, “We all have to die, so why not die the Islamic way?”

On Jan. 7, 2012, FBI agents arrested Osmakac after he took possession of the explosive devices and firearms that had been rendered inoperable by law enforcement. The complaint alleges that, shortly prior to his arrest, Osmakac made a video of himself explaining his motives for carrying out the planned violent attack.

Headlines from suspected terroist Sami Osmakac’s arrest affidavit

Page 9

Further, OSMAKAC indicated that he was also considering parking the vehicle with the explosive device in front of the Operations Center of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, located in Ybor City. OSMAKAC asked the UCE, “Will that take down a police station, the Sheriff’s building?”

“Honestly, I would love to go for the Army people, but their bases are so locked up, I have to do something else.” Second, he discussed a plan to “take down the bridges” across the Tampa Bay area in simultaneous attacks with multiple people, stating “this will crush the whole economy … this would crush everything, man, they would have no more food coming in. They would, nobody would have work.”

“We all have to die, so why not die the Islamic way?”

Page 12

OSMAKAC then directed the UCE to film a video in which OSMAKAC explained his motives for conducting a violent attack. During the video, OSMAKAC is seen sitting cross-legged on the floor of the hotel room, with the pistol in his hand and the AK-47 displayed behind him. The video lasted approximately 8 minutes. In the video, OSMAKAC stated his belief that Muslims’ “blood” was more valuable than that of people who do not believe in Islam.

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