October 21, 2009 Sudbury, Mass. man charged with planning shopping mall terror attacks Play video

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - 27-year-old Tarek Mehanna of Sudbury, Massachusetts, has been charged with conspiring with others on terror attacks against shoppers in U.S. malls and against U.S. military in Iraq.

The arrest came in conjunction with a search of his home.

Mehanna allegedly had two co-conspirators.

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Loucks says Mehanna sought training in terrorist training camps and working with others from 2001 to May of 2008 on the conspiracy to "kill, kidnap, main or injure" people in foreign countries and to kill prominent U.S. politicians.

Click here to read more from the Globe.

Federal prosecutors say Mehanna and his conspirators tried to get automatic weapons for a mall attack but their plans were foiled when they could not get the weapons.

Mehanna's attorney J.W. Carney Jr. did not immediately return calls for comment.

Mehanna also was arrested last year for allegedly lying about a man who trained with al-Qaida members with the goal of overthrowing the Somali government.

Click here to read more from the Globe on his 2008 arrest.

*Material from The Associated Press used in this report*