PHOENIX, June 16 (UPI) -- A man was indicted Tuesday for providing weapons and advice to two men who attempted in May to carry out an Islamist attack in Texas.
Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, also known as Decarus Thomas, was indicted in a Phoenix federal court on charges he provide weapons and discussed a plan to disrupt a Garland, Texas, contest in May at which the Prophet Mohammed was depicted in cartoon drawings. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi participated in the attack, and each was shot to death by a security guard before they entered the site. The unidentified guard was injured.
Kareem, an Arizona resident, was charged with conspiracy, interstate transport of firearms to commit a felony, and false statements to investigators. Court documents indicate he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Officials said Kareem, the gunman and unidentified others met at Kareem's home to discuss "their plan to travel from Phoenix, Ariz., to Garland, Texas, to conduct an attack on the contest," and in the days before the attack "traveled to remote desert areas near Phoenix, Ariz., to practice shooting firearms.''
Kareem's indictment is the first indication anyone other than Simpson and Soofi were involved in the attack; the court document suggests others were at least aware of the preparations for the attack.
The militant group Islamic State (IS) praised the incident after it occurred, claiming it was behind the bloodshed, but U.S. officials could cite no proof IS had any involvement and suggested it merely took an opportunity to suggest it had a part in terrorism on U.S. soil.
