WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A 17-year-old boy in Plano, Texas, has been arrested and charged with plotting a mass shooting inspired by the Islamic State at a shopping mall, law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday.

Matin Azizi-Yarand, 17, appears in a booking photo provided by the Collin County Sheriff's Office, May 2, 2018. Collin County Sheriff's Office/Handout via REUTERS

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and police said high-school student Matin Azizi-Yarand had planned the attack for mid-May and had sought to recruit others for the shooting. Authorities also said he had drafted a “Message to America” justifying his planned attack.

The FBI and local authorities in Collin County, Texas, said that at the time of his arrest, Azizi-Yarand had sent “more than $1,400 to others” to buy weapons and tactical gear.

In an affidavit, investigators said Azizi-Yarand began communicating online with an FBI “confidential human source” last December about his desire to travel abroad or to conduct an attack in the United States.

He compared himself to other recent “lone wolf” attackers, investigators said. “Look at all the other lone wolves// What training did they have yet they simply killed the kuffar?” Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source, using the Arabic word for “disbelievers,” according to the affidavit.

Prosecutors say Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source: “The brothers in Europe the brother in Spain the brother in New York? Had no military training//it’s not about numbers it’s about getting a message across to these taghut countries,” using an Islamic term denoting a focus of worship other than Allah.

Later in the discussion, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source he wanted “to put America in the state that Europe is in which is having to have soldiers deployed in streets.”

In other conversations, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand talked about his interest in traveling to Pakistan and then crossing into Afghanistan where he could join the Islamic State. At another point, he told the FBI source he knew a person in India who had information on jihadi activity in Libya, and who invited Azizi-Yarand to travel there with him.

In one conversation, Azizi-Yarand said that he had converted to Islam, in part because of “fighting.”

“When I first became Muslim fighting was a big part of why I came to this religion,” he said. “I saw men facing so many tribulations but remained steadfast and believed in Allah. That’s one of the Core things that led me to convert seeing the strength the Muslims had.”

In numerous online conversations, investigators said, Azizi-Yarand shared multiple forms of Islamic State propaganda. At another point, he sent the FBI source a document authored by one of the 1999 shooters at Columbine High School in Colorado containing detailed instructions for building pipe bombs.

The suspect also discussed various possible targets for a domestic U.S. attack, including a school. Later still, Azizi-Yarand discussed with an undercover FBI employee the possibility of attacking a shopping mall during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and at one point sent the FBI employee three pictures of a mall near Plano called the Stonebriar Centre.

While the FBI and a Joint Terrorism Task force conducted the investigation leading to Azizi-Yarand’s arrest, so far he has only being charged under Texas state law.

Under federal law, the 17-year-old is considered a juvenile, U.S. prosecutors in Texas said.

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“Federal law limits our ability to certify a juvenile as an adult for prosecution, and in light of that, we determined that state prosecution of the subject will best address the case,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Brown said in a statement.

Authorities said if that if Azizi-Yarand is convicted, he would face up to life in prison for soliciting others to participate in his planned attack, and up to 10 years in prison for making a terroristic threat.

Azizi-Yarand is in custody and bond has been set at $3 million.</s>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A 17-year-old in Plano, Texas, has been arrested for allegedly plotting a mass shooting attack inspired by the Islamic State at a local shopping mall, law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday.

The FBI and local police said high school student Matin Azizi-Yarand had planned the attack for mid-May and had sought to recruit others to participate in the shooting. Authorities also said he had drafted a "Message to America" justifying his planned attack. He is currently in custody and bond has been set for $3 million.</s>Transcript for Authorities say they foiled an alleged ISIS-inspired attack on a Texas mall

A teenager in Dallas is accused of planning a mass shooting at a local mall authorities claim he was inspired by crisis. Now police say seventeen year old Mateen as easy cover up the Iran. Was stalking out the mall staking out the mall and its security for weeks. He's also accused of spending more than a thousand dollars and weapons and tactical gear for the attack. And trying to recruit others to join him well during a jailhouse interview he denied the charges.</s>According to CBS11 News, Stonebriar Mall in Frisco, TX was the target of a planned “ISIS-inspired” shooting. The suspect, 17-year-old Matin Azizi has been arrested after info was gathered by the FBI regarding his plan of attack. Luckily, no one was injured. A note to parents: take some extra time to monitor your children and what they do online. This Plano high school teen had been planning this attack for months.

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• She Bad! Watch Viral Dancer @Beaulexx Get Busy To Cardi B</s>A 17-year-old in Plano, Texas, has been arrested for allegedly plotting a mass shooting attack inspired by the Islamic State at a local shopping mall, law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday.

A 17-year-old in Plano, Texas, has been arrested for allegedly plotting a mass shooting attack inspired by the Islamic State at a local shopping mall, law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday.

The FBI and local police said high school student Matin Azizi-Yarand had planned the attack for mid-May and had sought to recruit others to participate in the shooting.

Authorities also said he had drafted a "Message to America" justifying his planned attack. The FBI and local authorities in Collin County, Texas, said that at the time of his arrest, Azizi-Yarand had sent "more than $1400 to others" to buy weapons and tactical gear.

In an affidavit, investigators said Azizi-Yarand began communicating online with an FBI "confidential human source" last December about his desire to travel abroad or to conduct an attack in the United States. He compared himself to other recent "lone wolf" attackers, investigators said. "Look at all the other lone wolves// What training did they have yet they simply killed the kuffar? (Arabic for 'disbelievers')," Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source, according to the affidavit.

Prosecutors say Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source: "The brothers in Europe the brother in spain the brother in New York? Had no military training//it's not about numbers it's about getting a message across to these taghut countries," using an Islamic term denoting a focus of worship other than Allah. Later in the discussion, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source he wanted "to put America in the state that Europe is in which is having to have soldiers deployed in streets" and also do "something that will cost them a lot financially too."

While the FBI and a Joint Terrorism Task force conducted the investigation leading to Azizi-Yarand's arrest, so far he has only being charged under Texas state law. Authorities said if he is convicted, he would face up to life in prison for soliciting others to participate in his planned attack, and up to 10 years in prison for making a terroristic threat. He is currently in custody and bond has been set at $3 million.</s>PLANO, Texas (AP) — A suburban Dallas teenager accused of planning a mass shooting at a mall inspired by the Islamic State terror group has been charged with terrorism.

The Collin County district attorney’s office says 17-year-old Matin Azizi-Yarand of Plano had planned to release a “Message to America” explaining his reasons for the attack.

Authorities say he spent more than $1,400 buying weapons and tactical gear, and had been trying to recruit others to help him in the shooting planned for this month.

Azizi-Yarand is charged with criminal solicitation of capital murder and making a terroristic threat.

He is being held Wednesday at the Collin County jail on a $3 million bond. Online jail records don’t indicate that he has an attorney.

He faces life in prison on the criminal solicitation charge alone.

Follow @WJZ on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook</s>A Plano teenager was arrested for planning and trying to recruit others to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a Texas shopping mall.

According to authorities, high school student Matin Azizi-Yarand, 17, planned the attack for mid-May after being inspired by ISIS. At the time of his arrest, Azizi-Yarand sent more than $1,400 to others for the purchase of weapons and tactical gear.

Azizi-Yarand had been talking online with an undercover FBI confidential human source about his desire to either "make Hijrah [travel]," or to conduct a terroristic attack within the United States.

Through several conversations online, it was uncovered that Azizi-Yarand wanted to act as a lone wolf. He wanted to wait until he was 18 to carry out this attack so he could purchase a rifle himself, according to affidavits.

"I've only been reading ISIS magazine guides for performing operations and making bombs," Azizi-Yarand told the undercover federal agent.

Affidavits show throughout several other online conversations, Azizi-Yarand sent the agent various types of ISIS propaganda.

"I'd like to actually make a cop surrender and drop his gun, then douse him with gasoline and burn him ... record it," Azizi-Yarand said during talks about the mall shooting.

Under Texas state law, if convicted Azizi-Yarand could face up to life in prison for criminal solicitation and up to 10 years for making a terroristic threat.

Authorities say he had written and planned to release what he called a “Message to America,” which explained the reasons for his attack.</s>PLANO, Texas (AP) — A suburban Dallas teenager accused of planning a mass shooting at a mall inspired by the Islamic State terror group has been charged with terrorism.

The Collin County district attorney's office says 17-year-old Matin Azizi-Yarand of Plano had planned to release a "Message to America" explaining the attack.

READ ALSO: Laredo man accused of shooting teenager, found not guilty

Authorities say he spent more than $1,400 buying weapons and tactical gear, and had been trying to recruit others to help him in the shooting planned for this month.

Authorities learned of the plan when Azizi-Yarand began corresponding with an FBI informant.

READ ALSO: Photos: Laredoans walk in solidarity with Parkland shooting survivors

Azizi-Yarand is charged with criminal solicitation of capital murder and making a terroristic threat.

He's being held at the Collin County jail on a $3 million bond. Online jail records don't indicate that he has an attorney.</s>A Plano teenager was arrested for planning and trying to recruit others to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a Texas shopping mall, Stonebriar.

According to authorities, Plano West High School student Matin Azizi-Yarand, 17, planned the attack for mid-May after being inspired by ISIS. At the time of his arrest, Azizi-Yarand sent more than $1,400 to others for the purchase of weapons and tactical gear.

Azizi-Yarand had been talking online with an undercover FBI confidential human source about his desire to either "make Hijrah [travel]," or to conduct a terroristic attack within the United States.

Through several conversations online, it was uncovered that Azizi-Yarand wanted to act as a lone wolf. He wanted to wait until he was 18 to carry out this attack so he could purchase a rifle himself, according to affidavits.

"I've only been reading ISIS magazine guides for performing operations and making bombs," Azizi-Yarand told the undercover federal agent.

Affidavits show throughout several other online conversations, Azizi-Yarand sent the agent various types of ISIS propaganda.

"I'd like to actually make a cop surrender and drop his gun, then douse him with gasoline and burn him ... record it," Azizi-Yarand said during talks about the mall shooting.

Under Texas state law, if convicted Azizi-Yarand could face up to life in prison for criminal solicitation and up to 10 years for making a terroristic threat.

Authorities say he had written and planned to release what he called a “Message to America,” which explained the reasons for his attack.

The following letter was sent to Plano ISD students regarding the Azizi-Yarand incident:

In an effort to keep our student and parent community informed, I am writing to provide some details concerning an incident that occurred yesterday at Plano West Senior High School. Shortly before noon, law enforcement officials from the FBI and Plano Police Department served an arrest warrant on a student at the campus. The student was arrested without incident. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the offense for which the student was arrested was unrelated to Plano West, Plano ISD or any fellow students.

Because this matter involves a criminal investigation unrelated to the district, any additional details regarding the arrest, investigation or pending charges should be requested from the FBI and/or the Plano Police Department.</s>WASHINGTON: A 17-year-old boy in Plano, Texas, has been arrested and charged with plotting a mass shooting inspired by the Islamic State at a shopping mall, law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday. 



The Federal Bureau of Investigation and police said high school student Matin Azizi-Yarand had planned the attack for mid-May and had sought to recruit others for the shooting. Authorities also said he had drafted a "Message to America" justifying his planned attack. The FBI and local authorities in Collin County, Texas, said that at the time of his arrest, Azizi-Yarand had sent "more than $1,400 to others" to buy weapons and tactical gear. 



In an affidavit, investigators said Azizi-Yarand began communicating online with an FBI "confidential human source" last December about his desire to travel abroad or to conduct an attack in the United States. He compared himself to other recent "lone wolf" attackers, investigators said. "Look at all the other lone wolves, What training did they have yet they simply killed the kuffar?" Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source, using the Arabic word for "disbelievers," according to the affidavit. 



Prosecutors say Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source: "The brothers in Europe the brother in Spain the brother in New York? Had no military training, it´s not about numbers it´s about getting a message across to these taghut countries," using an Islamic term denoting a focus of worship other than Allah. Later in the discussion, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source he wanted "to put America in the state that Europe is in which is having to have soldiers deployed in streets" and also do "something that will cost them a lot financially too. "In other conversations, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand talked about his interest in traveling to Pakistan and then crossing into Afghanistan where he could join the Islamic State. 



At another point, he told the FBI source he knew a person in India who had information on jihadi activity in Libya, and who invited Azizi-Yarand to travel there with him. In numerous online conversations, investigators said, Azizi-Yarand shared multiple forms of Islamic State propaganda. At another point, he sent the FBI source a document authored by one of the 1999 shooters at Columbine High School in Colorado containing detailed instructions for building pipe bombs. 



But the suspect also discussed various possible targets for a domestic U. S. attack, including a school. Later still, Azizi-Yarand discussed with an undercover FBI employee the possibility of attacking a shopping mall during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and at one point sent the FBI employee three pictures of a mall called the Stonebriar Center. While the FBI and a Joint Terrorism Task force conducted the investigation leading to Azizi-Yarand´s arrest, so far he has only being charged under Texas state law. Authorities said if he is convicted, he would face up to life in prison for soliciting others to participate in his planned attack, and up to 10 years in prison for making a terroristic threat. He is in custody and bond has been set at $3 million.
A Texan teenager inspired by ISIL is arrested after threatening a mass shooting at a mall.