Florida Man Arrested In Plot To Bomb 9/11 Memorial Event

Investigators box up an assault weapon while collecting evidence outside the Curtis Culwell Center, in Garland, Texas, where a controversial Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest was held.

Brandon Wade / AP

A 20-year-old Florida man has been arrested on suspicion of encouraging someone to carry out a bombing at an upcoming 9/11 memorial ceremony in Missouri, the FBI announced Thursday.

Joshua Goldberg is also suspected of inspiring the May shooting outside a contest to draw the Prophet Muhammad in Texas, and repeatedly citing the failed incident in calling for another attack.

In the criminal complaint, Goldberg faces one charge of distributing information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction. If convicted, he faces 20 years in prison.

Regarding the Missouri allegations, Goldberg is accused of sending a confidential FBI informant links to online sites that provide instructions on how to make explosives.

According to a criminal complaint, Goldberg's ultimate goal was to get someone to place a bomb at the Kansas City Stair Climb, a 9/11 memorial event planned for Sunday in Kansas City.

Using the alias Australi Witness, Goldberg allegedly said he inspired the attacks in Garland, Texas, where Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi were shot dead by police after opening fire on the drawing contest.

Simpson, according to the affidavit, retweeted one of Goldberg’s tweets, “I’M BACK KUFFAR! DIE IN YOUR RAGE!” on the morning of the attack, according to the complaint.

“When I encouraged the attacks in Texas, my biggest inspiration was the Australian Muslim human rights activist…[Mariam Veiszadeh]…who worked tirelessly and diligently to outlaw blasphemy against Islam in Australia,” Goldberg allegedly posted as Australi Witness.

Goldberg initially denied the allegations, but later told authorities that he did post messages calling for an attack on the Texas drawing contest, the FBI said.

He also said he gave someone information on how to make bombs to be placed at the 9/11 memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, according to the criminal complaint.

Read the criminal complaint.

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