Florida man charged in plot to bomb Key West beach

By Kelly Cohen, Kelly Cohen

Published December 20, 2015

a target="_blank" href="http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-resident-charged-attempting-use-weapon-mass-destruction">The Department of Justice has arrested and charged a 23-year-old Florida resident for attempting to detonate a bomb at a public beach in the state.

Harlem Suarez, who was also known as Almlak Benitez, was a professed supporter of the Islamic State and looking to use a backpack bomb at a public beach. Suarez, 23, is from Key West, Florida.

The FBI was alerted of Suarez's intentions by Facebook posts containing extremist rhetoric that promoted the terror group. Suarez also told a source he wanted to conceal the "timer bomb" in a backpack, bury it at a public beach and detonate it remotely from a cellphone.

Suarez was arrested Tuesday after getting his hands on an inert device. He had already purchased parts of the bomb, which was to contain galvanized nails.