Federal authorities arrested 25 year old Sam Osmakac of Pinellas County and charged him with planning terror attacks in Tampa. Some of his targets included nightclubs in Ybor City, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and South Tampa businesses.
An informant tipped federal agents that Osmakac was looking for al-Qaeda flags and also discussed with the informant possible targets. Federal agents have had Osmakac under surveillance since for this activity since September.
The informant set up a meeting with Osmakac and an under cover FBI agent. Osmakac was working with this agent to purchase several weapons; AK-47-style machine gun, Uzi submachine guns, high capacity magazines, grenades and an explosive belt.
Osmakac also had plans of building a car bomb as well as using the explosive belt to take hostages from a well populated area. The plan allegedly was to make demands with FBI to release some prisoners and then they could "take me in 5 million pieces."
The charge against Osmakac is attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction which carries a $250,000 fine as well as life in prison. He is scheduled to make his first federal court appearance today.
Thanks to an informant and the FBI, Tampa was spared a possible large number of casualties. If you know of any suspicious activity, you can report it to the FBI at their terrorist tip line website.
