Oak Lawn Man, 31, Had Backpack Full Of Molotov Cocktails, Hand-Drawn Map To Orland Mosque: Authorities

MOKENA, IL — An Oak Lawn man arrested in Mokena Aug. 1 was found with a backpack filled with Molotov cocktails and map mentioning a suburban mosque, Mokena police and the Will County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.

Just before 3 a.m. on Aug. 1, Mokena police in the area of 191st and LaGrange Road encountered a man determined to be Hamed Alsaidi, 31, of the 5700 Block of Circle Drive in Oak Lawn. He was walking in the street, and when questioned, gave officers a false name.

At the time, he was carrying a blue blanket and a backpack. Alsaidi appeared coherent and not under the influence of any drugs, said Mokena Police Chief Brian Benton. He did not appear to be distressed or in need of medical attention, according to police.

Alsaidi was arrested for being in the roadway and obstructing officers by providing officers the false name. A search of his backpack revealed several bottles filled with gasoline and stuffed with rags.

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 State Fire Marshal's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were contacted and came out to the Mokena Police Department to assist in the investigation. The FBI was also contacted.

The Will County States Attorney’s Office was contacted and Hamed was subsequently charged with unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing a peace officer. He was detained at the Will County Jail.

Alsaidi's case went before a judge on Aug. 2. A judge rejected prosecutor's bid to deny pre-trial release and Alsaidi was released on electronic monitoring.

He is next due in court on Aug. 24, according to court records.

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," the statement reads.

"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."

Mokena Police Chief Brian Benton said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will be continuing the investigation.