ISIL backer from Adams may have been planning attacks on colleges
An Adams man who was arrested July 4 in connection with orchestrating a terrorism plot on behalf of ISIL is scheduled to appear in federal court in Springfield Tuesday for a detention hearing, according to federal prosecutors.
Alexander Ciccolo, 23, also known as Ali Al Amriki, was arrested immediately after taking delivery of two rifles and two pistols from a person who was cooperating with members of the Western Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force and who had been communicating with Ciccolo about his plans to engage in a terrorist act. Ciccolo was banned from possessing firearms based on a previous criminal conviction.
The suspect is the son of a captain in the Boston police force.
According to the office of US Attorney Carmen Ortiz, Ciccolo is a supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and talked about his plans to commit terrorist acts in recorded conversations. The plans included setting off improvised explosive devices, such as pressure cookers filled with black powder, nails, ball bearings and glass, "in places where large numbers of people congregate, like college cafeterias."
Authorities say that after his arrest, they found in Ciccolo's apartment two machetes, a long curved knife, and partially constructed Molotov cocktails that appeared to contain shredded Styrofoam soaking in motor oil. Ciccolo has previously stated that "this mixture would cause the fire from the exploded devices to stick to people's skin and make it harder to put the fire out," according to Ortiz's office.
Before his arrest, agents observed Ciccolo purchase a pressure cooker similar to the one used in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, according to prosecutors.
"I think the most important thing about it is it demonstrates again the ongoing dialogue that exists between federal, state, and local officials is constant and continuing and you would always want to be in a situation where a situation like this is dealt with beforehand," Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters Monday afternoon.
He added, "I think in some respects it's just another example of really strong communication and coordination between and among the folks on the law enforcement side."
Baker said many schools have made "significant" changes to enhance security after "things that have happened over the course of the past few years," and should make decisions in the future based on what they think is best for students, faculty and administrators.
According to an affidavit from agent Paul Ambrogio, a close acquaintance of Ciccolo's told the FBI that Ciccolo had expressed a desire to travel to Syria or Iraq to fight for ISIL. The acquaintance stated that Ciccolo "had a long history of mental illness and in the last 18 months had become obsessed with Islam."
The affidavit states that Ciccolo met with a cooperating witness on June 24 in Pittsfield and on June 30 in Springfield, discussing plans to conduct attacks in another state on civilians, members of the U.S. military and law enforcement personnel, including plans to use explosive devices to attack "two different bars and a police station."
In the June 30 meeting, according to the affidavit, Ciccolo said he wanted "to conduct an attack at the State University in that state using assault rifles and improvised explosives." He told the witness the attack "would be concentrated in the college dorms and cafeteria, to include the executions of students which would be broadcast live via the internet."
On July 2, Ciccolo allegedly sent the witness the Facebook link for a bar in the state he had previously targeted. The page highlighted a promotion celebrating the US Supreme Court's decision upholding same-sex marriage rights. "That is our target," he allegedly wrote. Later that same day Ciccolo cited another target as "a cafeteria at the college he had mentioned."
On July 3, agents observed Ciccolo buy a pressure cooker at the Walmart in North Adams, according to the affidavit, and Walmart provided a receipt indicating his purchase as well as a copy of the store video showing Ciccolo purchasing a pressure cooker. In an instant message chat that day, Ciccolo told the witness he had bought the pressure cooker and had "already made ten firebombs."
Ciccolo was arrested on July 4 as he was carrying firearms from his meeting with the witness towards his apartment, according to the affidavit, which said he had a knife with a five-inch blade and a receipt from the pressure cooker in his wallet.
During a routine medical screening at the Franklin House of Correction following his arrest, Ciccolo "grabbed a pen and forcefully stabbed the nurse in the head, leaving a hole in the nurse's skin and causing the pen to break in half."
Ciccolo is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, which carries a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Tuesday's hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in US District Court in Springfield.
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