MOKENA, IL — An Oak Lawn man arrested Aug. 1 and found to be carrying several Molotov cocktails along with a hand-drawn map to a suburban mosque is now in ICE custody, according to federal databases.
Hamed Alsaidi, 31, was arrested at 191st and LaGrange Road on Aug. 1, after police found him walking in the street. When questioned, Alsaidi gave officers a false name.
Police said a search of Alsaidi's belongings revealed a backpack filled with Molotov cocktails and a map mentioning a suburban mosque, Mokena police and the Will County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.
Alsaidi was arrested for being in the roadway and obstructing officers by providing officers the false name.
Additional search efforts uncovered a piece of paper with "what appeared to be Middle Eastern" language or scribblings and a reference to 167th Street and a mosque, according to Mokena Police.
In an alert sent to area mosques, the Will County Sheriff's Office said Alsaidi had a "hand-drawn map" of the area around Orland Park Prayer Center, located at 16530 104th Avenue in Orland Park. The Sheriff's Office said that they believed the location was a potential target for Alsaidi during the 4 a.m. hour of prayer.
Benton said Mokena police were unable to verify the writing targeted the mosque.
The FBI, State Fire Marshal's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were contacted to assist in the investigation.
The Will County States Attorney's Office charged Alsaidi with unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing a peace officer. He was detained at the Will County Jail, before being released on electronic monitoring Aug. 2.
U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement shows Alsaidi as in custody at its Miami Correctional Center, in Bunkerville, Indiana. His country of birth is noted as Jordan.
The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday released a statement regarding Alsaidi, saying he entered the country illegally through California in March 2024.
"ICE lodged a detainer with Will County the same day Alsaidi was arrested," the emailed statement reads. "Will County sanctuary politicians refused to honor the detainer and released him on August 2 without notifying ICE, after Will County Judge Theodore Jarz granted Alsaidi a pretrial release. ICE law enforcement arrested Alsaidi on August 4."
A DHS spokesperson said Alsaidi had "eight Molotov cocktails in his possession and gave a false name to officers, continuing:
"He now faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and obstructing identification. Even though ICE lodged a detainer, sanctuary politicians in Will County, Illinois refused to honor it and released him without notifying ICE. Fortunately, thanks to the brave men and women of ICE, we have apprehended him and he remains in ICE custody. Governor J.B. Pritzker and his fellow sanctuary politicians need to stop putting American lives at risk with their reckless, America Last policies."
In Will County court records, Alsaidi's next court date is shown as Aug. 24.
Orland Park police on Tuesday issued a statement.
"The Orland Park Police Department is aware of an arrest made over the weekend in Mokena, involving possible threats directed toward the Orland Park Prayer Center," officials said.
"Since learning of the incident, the Orland Park Police Department has remained in close communication with the Mokena Police Department, our federal law enforcement partners, and security personnel at the Orland Park Prayer Center.
"All further requests for information regarding the arrest or investigation should be directed to the Mokena Police Department."
The Will County Sheriff's Office alerted area mosques about Alsaidi, Public Information Officer Elizabeth Matthews confirmed to Patch.
"The Will County Sheriff's Office sent out a message to area mosques out of an abundance of caution," Matthews said.
"Ever since the murder of Wadea al-Fayoume, the Will County Sheriff's Office has established relationships with area mosques and the leaders within that community, and as a precaution, the Will County Sheriff's Office provided them with this information."
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