| October 22, 2009 Ahmed Mehanna: Legal system will clear Tarek
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(NECN: Sudbury, Mass.) - A Massachusetts man was put behind bars on Wednesday, accused in a homegrown terrorist plot.
Federal prosecutors said Tarek Mehanna, 27, of Sudbury, Massachusetts plotted to kill American and government officials, but that the plot never got off the ground.
Tarek's father, Ahmed Mehanna is a professor at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. When reached at his home on Thursday morning, he said that he had faith his son would be found innocent.
"We believe in the American system and we believe things will clear up by the Justice system," Mehanna said.
Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Tarek Mehanna
Tarek Mehanna was charged with conspiring with two others -- Ahmad Abousamra, an American now in Syria, and an unidentified man who is cooperating with authorities -- to support terrorism.
Ultimately, the trio never came close to committing a terrorist attack. They abandoned alleged plans to attack a shopping mall after their weapons contact said he could not get them automatic weapons.
When asked if his son could be described as a terrorist, Ahmed Mehanna said, "A terrorist? That's news to me."
Citing lawyer's instructions, Ahmed Mehanna declined to comment on his son's demeanor or past travel. But he did express frustration with the coverage of his son's arrest.
"I haven't slept from the
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