Accused Terrorist Targeted Cleveland's July 4 Parade, St. John's

CLEVELAND, OH — The FBI says it has thwarted an alleged terrorist attack that targeted downtown Cleveland and St. John's Cathedral. The agency announced charges against a suspect, Demetrius Pitts, on Monday morning.

"Just last week, this defendant was walking around downtown Cleveland conducting reconnaissance on what he thought was a large scale attack planned for the 4th of July," said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. "He looked for locations to park a van that would be filled with explosives. He talked about taking targets like St. John's Cathedral off the map."

Pitts, aka Abdur Raheem Rahfeeq, is a U.S. citizen. He has been charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He was arrested July 1 at 10 a.m. He could spend 20 years in prison, Herdman noted.

He allegedly began making threatening posts on social media in 2017, while living in southern Ohio. In his posts, he reportedly said he was willing to conduct an attack on U.S. soil and expressed his hatred of the U.S. military. He also touted his support of Al-Qaeda. The FBI was made aware of these posts and opened an investigation into Pitts.

"His Facebook posts were, quite frankly, disturbing," said FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Anthony at a press conference on Monday morning. Anthony noted that several posts indicated that "Muslims should learn hand-to-hand combat" and "how to throw grenades."

In May, Pitts relocated to the Cleveland area. He continued to express a desire to conduct violence against the U.S. on social media, Anthony said.

During the last week of June, Pitts allegedly told an undercover agent that he wanted to attack the July 4th parade in downtown Cleveland. He was specifically looking at Voinovich Park — where the city's fireworks will be set off — and the nearby Coast Guard station as potential targets.

“And I’m gonna be downtown when the – when the thing go off. I’m gonna be somewhere cuz I wanna see it go off,” Pitts told the undercover FBI agent.

It is unclear whether or not Pitts could have made the explosives needed to carry out the attack, Anthony said. However, it is possible Pitts could have sought help to make the weaponry. Pitts ability to create his desired weapons may never be known, Anthony said.

On Sunday, July 1, the undercover agent reportedly met with Pitts one last time. During their conversation, Pitts allegedly again expressed his allegiance to Al-Qaeda and his desire to attack Cleveland on Independence Day. He also said he wanted to carry out future attacks on Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pitt's hometown. He also said he wanted to give remote control cars, loaded with shrapnel bombs, to the children of U.S. military members, Herdman said.

When the meeting was over, law enforcement arrested Pitts.

Anthony said Pitts had a criminal history that included aggravated robbery, felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon. Pitts is a U.S. citizen. and was living in Maple Heights at the time of his arrest, the FBI said.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said the investigation into Pitts started because a concerned citizen reported his posts to law enforcement. He then urged the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious.

"Law enforcement is going to be out there this summer," said Williams. "If you see something, say something."

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