Usaamah Rahim, the man fatally shot by Boston police after brandishing a military knife at them on Tuesday, plotted to behead conservative blogger and activist Pamela Geller, CNN reported.
Ms. Geller organized the Prophet Muhammad cartoon drawing contest in Garland, Texas, on May 3 at which two suspects opened fire on a security guard before being shot and killed by police.
“They targeted me for violating Shariah blasphemy laws,” Ms. Geller told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
Rahim, 26, who authorities believe was radicalized by the Islamic State and other extremists, was fatally shot two hours after allegedly telling an associate of plans to target the “boys in blue” — a reference to police officers.
Ms. Geller was Rahim’s original target, three law enforcement sources told CNN, but he turned his attention to the police, saying of the Geller plan, “I can’t wait that long.”
Rahim was the subject of a terror investigation and had been under 24-hour police surveillance.
Rahim’s associate, David Wright, appeared in U.S. District Court in Boston on Wednesday to face a charge of obstructing a federal investigation by destroying an electronic evidence. Wright allegedly tried to destroy Rahim’s cellphone.
• Jay LeBlanc can be reached at jleblanc@washingtontimes.com.
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