Synergy thwarts terror attack at Quantico

Close cooperation between military and civilian authorities is being credited with thwarting a plot to attack U.S. military personnel at Quantico Marine Corps base.

An indictment handed down Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina alleges that Daniel Patrick Boyd and Hysen Sherifi got maps of the base to plan an attack on Quantico.

Quantico Commander Col. Daniel J. Choike said officials at the Marine base worked closely with both Naval Criminal Investigative Service and FBI agents throughout the investigation.

“We have ensured that the safety and protection of our Marines, their families and civilians who call Quantico home, received our first and absolute attention,” said Choike. “That attention in all matters continues to be our main focus.”

The indictment alleges Boyd undertook reconnaissance of Quantico and obtained maps of the base in order to plan the attack. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Boyd also possessed armor-piercing ammunition and had stated that it was “to attack the Americans.”

“These additional charges hammer home the grim reality that today’s homegrown terrorists are not limiting their violent plans to locations overseas, but instead are willing to set their sights on American citizens and American targets, right here at home,” U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding said.

Congressman Rob Wittman, whose district includes Quantico, said the country is fortunate to have law enforcement and intelligence officials working around the clock to protect it.

“However, our enemies remain committed to targeting our citizens and service members. These arrests highlight my continued call that Marine Corps Base Quantico not be used to house Guantanamo Bay detainees or any suspects at terror trials,” he said. “This installation is already being targeted because of the presence of military personnel, let alone the added value of fellow terrorists. I remain committed against the move of detainees to Quantico, the Commonwealth, and our nation.”

Authorities earlier said that the men went on training expeditions in the weeks leading up to their arrests in July and practiced military tactics with armor-piercing bullets on a property in rural North Carolina. An eighth suspect in the case is believed to be in Pakistan.

Boyd and Sherifi were among seven suspects arrested last month for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and for conspiracy to murder, kidnap, maim and injure people overseas, according to court records.

An earlier indictment against the men accused them of plotting international terrorism and conspiring to support terrorism. Investigators also have said that some of the men took trips to Jordan, Kosovo, Pakistan and Israel “to engage in violent jihad.”

Military editor Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5717. The Associated Press contributed to this report.