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Syrian refugee accused of terror plot on Pittsburgh church denied request to await trial at home

PITTSBURGH — The Syrian refugee accused of plotting an attack on a Pittsburgh church in the name of ISIS will stay behind bars until his trial.

A federal judge made that decision on Friday after the U.S. attorney and defense attorney made their arguments for nearly two hours.

At Mustafa Alowemer's detention hearing, the U.S. attorney showed a video where the 21-year-old was seen wearing a mask and allegedly pledging support to ISIS.

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The former Brashear High School student allegedly sent it and other videos to an FBI undercover agent over the internet.

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It was part of the U.S. attorney's argument that Alowemer is a "lethal and toxic danger" to the community and a flight risk.

One of the witnesses, an FBI agent specializing in terrorism, told the judge Alowemer told the undercover agents that he wanted to flee to Syria and live life as a martyr on battlegrounds.

Alowemer is accused of plotting to blow up a North Side church, and the U.S. attorney's office said he wanted to target a number of groups, including Shiite Muslims, Christians, Jews, first responders and law enforcement, plus ROTC students at his high school.

The defense attorney argued that Alowemer didn't have a concrete plan to attack the church and was acting in direction on the undercover agents with whom he was communicating with.

The suspect's mother also took the stand and testified that if her son was released until trial, she would closely watch him and even sleep in the same bed with him to make sure he didn't leave, but the judge ruled that Alowemer will stay behind bars.

The judge also granted attorneys six more months to continue to gather evidence.

Cox Media Group

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