Authorities stopped a potential Christmas Day terrorist attack in San Francisco, and here’s what we know
We’ve received confirmation that authorities thwarted a potential terrorist plot in San Francisco scheduled for Christmas Day. According to ABC News, the FBI has arrested a man named Everitt Aaron Jameson from Modesto, California, and the attack was apparently planned for Pier 39, a popular tourist destination.
According to FBI documents, the specific location was chosen because Jameson “had been there before and knew it was a heavily crowded area,” and that it would be easy to “funnel” people into specific spaces for maximum causalities.
Officials also say that Jameson has pro-ISIS posts on his Facebook page, and that he told them he was inspired by the October 31st attack in New York City, when a driver drove his vehicle into a crowd in lower Manhattan.
According to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Christopher McKinney, Jameson “has espoused radical jihadi beliefs, including authoring social media posts that are supportive of terrorism, communicating with people he believes share his jihadi views and offering to provide services to such people, including in the form of his presumably employer-provided tow truck in service of the ’cause.’”
What agents recovered at suspect's home – letter, last will & testament, firearms and rounds pic.twitter.com/NbmcUgHDfW
— Melanie Woodrow (@MelanieWoodrow) December 22, 2017
Jameson was apparently discharged from the Marine Corps and has sharpshooting experience. He was reportedly arrested earlier this week after talking to an undercover FBI agent, and authorities found both firearms and fireworks in his residence after searching his home. false
Not much else is currently known about Jameson at this time, but details are expected to emerge about his background and plan as the day goes on. We’ll continue to monitor this situation as it develops.
