Muhammad Hussain (also known as Antonio Martinez), is a homegrown terrorist from Baltimore, Maryland, who was sentenced on April 6, 2012, to 25 years in federal prison, for attempting the use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property, in connection with a scheme to attack the armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. He was arrested on December 8, 2010, after the attempt to remotely detonate an explosive device in a vehicle parked in the mentioned Armed Forces recruiting station parking lot.
A federal prison is operated under the jurisdiction of a federal government as opposed to a state or provincial body. Federal prisons are used for convicts who violated federal law, inmates considered dangerous (Brazil), or those sentenced to longer terms of imprisonment (Canada). Not all federated countries have a legal concept of "federal prison".
A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to numerous humans or cause great damage to human-made structures, natural structures, or the biosphere. The scope and usage of the term has evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. Originally coined in reference to aerial bombing with chemical explosives during World War II, it has later come to refer to large-scale weaponry of other technologies, such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear warfare.
Catonsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 41,567 at the 2010 census. The community lays to the west of Baltimore along the city's border. Catonsville contains the majority of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), a major public research university with close to 14,000 students.
Martinez spoke about his hate towards the United States of America, including his belief that Muslims were being unfairly targeted by the US and killed by the US military. He expressed his desire to commit jihad by sending the message that American soldiers would be killed, unless the country stopped its "war" against Islam, its War on Terror. He also attempted to recruit at least three acquaintances to join into his plot, before an FBI source introduced him to the "Afghani brother", an FBI undercover sting agent.
The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country comprising 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the most populous city is New York City. Most of the country is located contiguously in North America between Canada and Mexico.
Muslims are people who follow or practice Islam, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion. Muslims consider the Quran, their holy book, to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to the Islamic prophet and messenger Muhammad. The majority of Muslims also follow the teachings and practices of Muhammad (sunnah) as recorded in traditional accounts (hadith). "Muslim" is an Arabic word meaning "submitter".
Jihad is an Arabic word which literally means striving or struggling, especially with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it can refer to almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God's guidance, such as struggle against one's evil inclinations, religious proselytizing, or efforts toward the moral betterment of the ummah, though it is most frequently associated with war. In classical Islamic law, the term refers to armed struggle against unbelievers, while modernist Islamic scholars generally equate military jihad with defensive warfare. In Sufi and pious circles, spiritual and moral jihad has been traditionally emphasized under the name of greater jihad. The term has gained additional attention in recent decades through its use by terrorist groups.
Martinez (Muhammad Hussain) attempted to recruit a number of loyal people to join the operation, including an individual who he said had the ability to obtain weapons and other deadly devices. All of them later declined the charges, and one of them expressly attempted to dissuade Martinez from committing jihad. He also stated his militant beliefs in postings on his official Facebook profile. Muhammad Hussain pled guilty in January 2011. [1] [2] [3] [4]
