CHICAGO (CBS 2) -- A 22-year-old Rockford man with an ambition to become a terrorist has been arrested by federal authorities on allegations that he planned to set off grenades in garbage cans in a mall in Rockford.
Derrick Shareef, of Rockford, was arrested on Wednesday by FBI agents from the Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez denied bond for Shareef and he remains in federal custody.
He was apprehended after meeting with an undercover agent in a Rockford store parking lot to trade a set of stereo speaksers for four hand grenades and a handgun, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Shareef was charged with one count of count of attempting to damage or destroy a building by fire or explosion and one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, authorities said.
Shareef allegedly planned to set off the grenades at the CherryVale Shopping Mall, near Interstate 90 and Interstate 39 on Rockford's east side. The mall has about 130 retail stores and is owned byy a Tennessee-based company, authorities said.
Authorities reported that the mall was one of several potential targets Shareef allegedly discussed with undercover agents, and the others were primarily local government facilities.
Federal authorities said the public was not in danger.
“Once the threat Shareef posed was detected by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, his activities and movements were under constant surveillance and there was no imminent risk to the public,” said FBI Special-Agent-in-Charge Robert Grant.
“While these are very serious charges, at no time was the public in any imminent peril as a result of the defendant’s activities,” added U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
An individual close to the investigation, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because charges have not been filed thus far, said there was no specific threat.
The man arrestred Friday is considered a lone operator without ties to any known terrorist organization, law enforcement sources said.
He has an appearance in Chicago's federal court at 1 p.m.
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