A 34-year-old Muslim convert who planned to attack a US military recruiting centre with grenades and machine guns in revenge for alleged US war crimes was jailed for 18 years on Monday.
Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, a US citizen, was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release following his prison term for the 2011 plot, which officials said was foiled due to help from the local Muslim community.
“This defendant planned to attack a military centre when there would be the largest possible gathering of new recruits and their families,” said US Attorney Jenny Durkan, after the sentencing as part of a plea deal.
“He targeted young men and women solely because they wanted to serve our country. His goal: to inspire others with a message of hate,” she added, while a prosecution spokeswoman said he wanted publicity for his crime.
Abdul-Latif was angry at US military action in Afghanistan when he plotted to attack the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Seattle.
“His statements indicate he wanted to inspire others by getting his crime on CNN, as retribution for alleged war crimes,” said the spokeswoman, Emily Langlie.
Abdul-Latif, original name Joseph Anthony Davis, pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to murder US federal employees and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. He had faced up to 19 years in prison under a plea deal.
