Honduran Man Planned Bomb Attack On Dolphin Mall: FBI

MIAMI, FL — A 53-year-old Honduran man living in Miami has been charged with plotting to set off a bomb in the Dolphin Mall as part of an ISIS-inspired attack. Vicente A. Solano was arrested while trying to enter the crowded shopping center with a phony bomb supplied by the FBI. Solano was charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

"Just prior to his arrest, Solano took possession of what he believed was an explosive device, took steps to arm it, and walked toward a mall entrance in order to carry out his attack," federal prosecutors said in announcing the arrest Monday night. "Unbeknownst to Solano, the device was inert and did not pose a risk to the public."

Florida Gov. Rick Scott referred to Solano as an "alleged terrorist" and applauded the investigation that led to his arrest. The governor said that his office included $5.8 million and 46 counterterrorism agent positions within the state budget.

"It is because of this critical funding that [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] has counterterrorism agents on every Florida-based Joint Terrorism Task Force and were able to assist in this investigation and the arrest of this individual," Scott said. "The hate and evil of ISIS must be destroyed and these brave men and women work relentlessly to make sure that those who wish to harm us are identified and stopped before they can carry out evil acts meant to harm innocent families."

If convicted, Solano faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial detention hearing on Thursday at 10 a.m.before U.S. Magistrate Judge Chris M. McAliley. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 6.

The Dolphin is one of the most popular malls in the Miami area and often features live entertainment. It is common to see entire families dancing to live music and enjoying the movie theaters, restaurants and more than 240 retailers at the Dolphin on weekend nights.

According to federal prosecutors, Solano planned to detonate the device in the mall's food court.

"Solano discussed his plot with a confidential human source and two FBI undercover employees," prosecutors said. "According to the complaint, Solano provided three videos to the source, in which Solano makes pro-ISIS statements and expresses anti-U.S. sentiments."

Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg in Miami said that finding homegrown terrorists remains a top priority.

"The top priority of the Department of Justice is to protect the American people from those who intend to take action aimed at terrorizing our community," he said. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the FBI, works tirelessly to advance this mission by continuing to thwart home-grown acts of terrorism in all forms."

Timothy R. Langan, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Miami agreed that thwarting terrorists is his agency's top priority.

“Protecting the United States from a terrorist attack is the FBI’s number one priority,” Langan stressed. “There is no room for error.”

The Dolphin Mall case was investigated by the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Gilbert and trial attorney Jolie Zimmerman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Sweetwater Police Chief Placido Diaz, where the Dolphin Mall is located, told Local 10 that the shopping center is safe.

"One of the things that I can assure you is that not only our department, but other departments in conjunction with ours are very well prepared to deal with any potential incident at Dolphin Mall," he said.

In August, hundreds of shoppers ran from the Dolphin Mall amid reports of gunfire, which later turned out to be unsubstantiated. The incident sent patrons fleeing for the exits, while others hunkered down in store stockrooms for as long as five hours in some cases.

Vicente Solano is pictured in this Dec. 23, 2013 photo made available by the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department. Solano, who described himself as a sympathizer of the Islamic State extremist group, faces terrorism-related charges stemming from a purported plot to bomb the Dolphin Mall, according to court documents filed Monday in Miami. (Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department via AP)