PHOENIX — A Muslim man who was arrested in June after allegedly being involved in a plot to attack a “draw Muhammad” contest in Texas has now also been accused of planning to bomb a shopping mall in Arizona and the 2015 Super Bowl.
Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, 44, of Arizona, had been charged this summer after investigators believed that he helped to plan the attack in Garland, along with Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, also from the Pheonix area.
As previously reported, Simpson and Soofi traveled to Texas in May to attack the event, driving up to the Curtis Culwell Center near the end of the gathering and began shooting at a security officer. Police officers who were on duty for extra security then returned the gunfire with the suspects, fatally wounding them.
Kareem was arrested after being connected to the incident as it was believed that he helped to plan the assault, provided the weapons carried by the men, and went with Simpson and Soofi to shooting practice to prepare for the attack. He was charged with conspiracy, interstate transportation of firearms, false statements, and felony possession of firearms.
On Wednesday, a federal grand jury added a new charge of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization as it has since been alleged that Kareem, as well as Simpson and Soofi, had supported ISIS. The indictment says that Simpson and Soofi were carrying a printout of the Islamic State flag at the time of the Texas attack.
According to reports, Kareen had researched travel to the Middle East to fight with the terror organization and encouraged Simpson and Soofi to carry out attacks in the U.S. as retribution for military action against ISIS . Prosecutors also accuse Kareem of watching and sharing jihadist videos, as well as seeking information about how to obtain pipe bombs to attack Westgate Mall and the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale during the 2015 Super Bowl.
The three are additionally stated to have scoped out military installations for potential attacks.
In June, during his initial indictment, prosecutor Kristen Brook called Kareem “off the charts dangerous.”
“This is an individual who is apt to incite violence,” she said.
His attorney, Daniel Maynard, asserted that the case was based on an unreliable source.
“This case is all smoke and mirrors, based on confidential source that is not reliable at all,” Maynard said. “This is a typical, typical jailhouse snitch.”
Kareem’s family also believes he is innocent.
Kareem was born Decarus Lowell Thomas, but later changed his name after converting to Islam.