Man Planned ISIS-Inspired Attack At National Harbor: Prosecutors

GERMANTOWN, MD — A Germantown man who prosecutors say was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group planned to run down pedestrians with a stolen U-Haul truck at the National Harbor resort in Prince George's County, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The man, 28-year-old Rondell Henry, was charged with interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. On Monday, federal prosecutors urged the judge to detain Henry pending trial as a flight risk and a danger to the community.

In a six-page detention memo, prosecutors say Henry was inspired by ISIS when he stole a U-Haul van from an Alexandria, Virginia, parking garage on March 26. That same day, he walked off his job "determined to walk down the extremist path," the memo read.

According to the memo, Henry harbored hatred for people who did not practice the Muslim faith and wanted to conduct a vehicle attack, similar to one in 2016 that killed 86 people in Nice, France. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack.

Henry drove around the D.C. metro area that day looking for a vehicle that could do more damage than his car. He then spotted a U-Haul van on I-395.

"The driver who had rented the U-Haul vehicle had noticed a man driving a blue BMW follow the U-Haul off Interstate 395 and onto mall property, then follow the U-Haul into the parking garage and park a few spaces away," prosecutors said. "When police responded to the garage, they found the BMW near where the U-Haul had been stolen. A check of the BMW's registration records revealed that the BMW was registered to Rondell Henry."

The following day, Henry drove the stolen U-Haul vehicle to Dulles International Airport in Virginia. According to prosecutors, Henry entered the terminal, trying to find a way through security. After an unsuccessful attempt to breach Dulles' security perimeter, Henry returned to the U-Haul and drove to the National Harbor resort.

When he arrived, prosecutors allege Henry broke into a boat to hide in overnight. The following morning, police tracked down the stolen van.

Law enforcement officials reviewed video surveillance of the area and saw Henry exiting the van. He was arrested on March 28.

If convicted, the Germantown resident faces up to 10 years in prison. A detention hearing is scheduled for April 9 in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.