A Key West man was arrested this week on a federal charge after planning to bury a backpack timer bomb on the beach and set it off remotely with a cell phone, according to a charging document unsealed Tuesday.
According to the affidavit, Harlem Suarez, 23, listed his "likes" on a Facebook account under his real name as "Jihadist," "Extraordinary Prayer for ISIS" and "Prayers for ISIS: Weapons of our Warfare."
Suarez met with a source and an undercover agent, and told them he wanted to learn how to make a bomb he could set off remotely. He also ordered an AK-47 assault rifle online and arranged to pick it up from a local jewelry and pawn shop in Key West.
At a meeting in June, the undercover agent pretended to be a member of ISIS who could help Suarez obtain or make a bomb. At that meeting, Suarez "discussed wanting to conduct a terrorist-style attack on or around July 4, possibly in Marathon, Fla., or on South Beach in Miami Beach, Fla., or both," according to the affidavit.
On July 19, Suarez bought two boxes of galvanized nails at The Home Depot and brought them, a pre-paid cell phone, $100 and a backpack to a meeting with the confidential source.
"Also during the meeting, it was discussed where the bomb would be placed," according to the affidavit. "Specifically, Suarez discussed taking the bomb to a public beach, burying it in the sand and then detonating the device remotely with the cell phone. Suarez also discussed putting bombs under police cars, in front of police officers' homes, and possibly purchasing a vehicle and building a car bomb."
On Monday, Suarez met the undercover agent, got into the agent's car and was shown how to operate the device. When Suarez got out of the car, he was arrested on a federal charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.
Listen to our report on the terror charge.
Key West Police Chief Donie Lee said Tuesday he was convinced that federal agents had prevented an act of terrorism in the Florida Keys.
"Because of their efforts they prevented either residents or visitors from being injured or potentially killed," Lee said.
Lee also said he thought the news would come as a "complete shock" to the island community.
"They would never suspect or believe that an act of terror could happen here in paradise," Lee said.
