Domestic terrorismMarine reservist arrested outside Pentagon, suspicious vehicle found
Authorities apprehended Lance Corporal Yonathan Melaku early Friday morning after he was found at Arlington National Cemetery while it was still closed; authorities discovered that the suspect was carrying a notebook that contained the phrases “al Qaeda,” “Taliban rules,” and “Mujahid defeated croatian forces”; law enforcement officials say that despite the evidence found, Melaku is not believed to be involved in a terrorist plot
Marine reservist Yonathan Melaku // Source: airforcetimes.com
On Friday Pentagon security officials identified the owner of a suspicious vehicle parked outside the Department of Defense headquarters as a lance corporal in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Authorities apprehended Lance Corporal Yonathan Melaku early Friday morning after he was found at Arlington National Cemetery while it was still closed. Park Police launched a search for his vehicle and found it parked near the Pentagon in some shrubbery near the north parking lot.
Authorities discovered that the suspect was carrying a notebook that contained the phrases “al Qaeda,” “Taliban rules,” and “Mujahid defeated croatian forces”. In addition, Melaku’s backpack contained an undisclosed amount of non-explosive material, twenty spent 9mm shell casings, and three cans of black spray paint.
After searching his vehicle, investigators found what appears to have been an undisclosed amount of ammonium nitrate in a backpack. The substance is most commonly used in fertilizers but can be used as an explosive.
Law enforcement officials say that despite the evidence found, Melaku is not believed to be involved in a terrorist plot.
“It seems to be washing out at this point, but it is still being drilled down on,” an anonymous law enforcement official told CBS News.
Melaku is currently being held by U.S. Park Police. So far no charges have been filed against him.
“This is all very unfolding and a continuing investigation,” said Brenda Heck, the FBI Special Agent who leads the counterterrorism division at the DC field office.
Heck added that no suspicious items had been found inside his vehicle.
According to DHS spokesman Matthew Chandler, DHS officials and other federal agencies are working with local police departments to investigate the matter.
“DHS is monitoring a suspicious vehicle incident causing road closures around the Pentagon,” he said. “This is a law enforcement matter at this time, with the U.S. Park Police and the Arlington County Police Department as leads and other federal agencies on the scene.”
Federal authorities are also searching his home in Fairfax County, Virginia for any potential leads.
Melaku appears to have a criminal record that includes four pending cases in Loudon County, Virginia where he has been accused of grand larceny from a series of vehicle break-ins.
