Gone but not forgotten: the days when revolution didn't hit quite so close to home.
Major news today ... a domestic terrorist was arrested after placing what he thought was a "weapon of mass destruction" (i.e. bomb) in a trash can to explode as the crowds were leaving the Dave Matthews concert at Wrigley this weekend. Far enough away that I wouldn't have died from the blast (which I guess is some consolation), I just have to say that I saw those crowds leaving and most of them had a funny look in their eyes and they were searching for munchies of any kind (one stopped me as I reparked my car to ask if there was a neighborhood spot to get deep dish pizza) -- they were most certainly not prepared to be pawns in some madman's revolutionary game.
The full criminal complaint had been released online, and although the guy's name is going to make most everyone jump to assumptions tied into our current crusades, 22year old Sami Samir Hassoun is quoted on page 16 of 26 stating that his motivation was "attacking Chicago as a means of creating chaos to gain political control of the city and its sources of revenue". So before the media gets this all twisted, note that Master Hassoun is more closely related to the Joker in the Batman oeuvre than to Osama.
And, one other note, thanks to the details in the full complaint, our undercover man on the inside, when he heard that Hassoun's original plan was to attack something on the Mag Mile, apparently suggested that he consider the bar scene on Clark Street next to Wrigley instead. So ... where can I send the thank-you note to that agent for bringing the danger to my 'hood?
Again, crisis is averted. And, apparently the whole situation was well-managed (or, in defense lawyer speak, he was subject to entrapment) so the public wasn't in danger. Unless, of course, Hassoun had decided to go rogue (he didn't) or inspire others (sure hope not) or any number of other scary scenarios.
This one's for you Dave Matthews -- the last time you came to town, your tour bus staff dumped your bus' waste receptacle off of a bridge on to spectators on a boat tour below. This time, your visit is marred by a failed domestic terrorist who's emulating the Batman sequel that was filmed here. I'm sure you're a nice guy and all, but please stay the hell out of Chicago!
The expectation that city trash receptacles in my neighborhood were for the homeless guys with the carts collecting aluminum cans and not for the placement of weapons of mass destruction, you are missed.
BREAKING NEWS THAT CATCHES YOUR EYE WHEN YOU SEE IT GO BY ON THE TICKER:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/fbi-man-arrested-in-plot-to-bomb-wrigleyville.html
THE FULL COMPLAINT IN ALL ITS GLORY (?!):
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-092010-samir-hassoun-fbi-affidavit,0,5376609.htmlpage
EW's STAFFER's AUNT's INSIDE SCOOP ON THE POOP INCIDENT:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,692288,00.html
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