NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- A Queens man who discussed a desire to attack Times Square pleaded guilty Friday to knowingly receiving a gun with an obliterated serial number.
Ashiqul Alam, 25, a Bangladesh citizen, faces up to five years in prison and will be deported after completing his sentence.
“With today’s guilty plea, Alam has admitted to purchasing a firearm for use in a full-scale, mass-casualty attack in Times Square,” said United States Attorney Breon Peace.
Between August 2018 and June 2019, Alam repeatedly expressed a desire to purchase firearms for a mass casualty attack either in Times Square or involving a governmental official in Washington, D.C., officials said.
According to the New York Times, Alam also voiced admiration for Osama bin Laden, and wanted to carry on his “legacy.”
In January 2019, Alam visited Times Square for “reconnaissance,” using his phone to take video recordings of the area, according to authorities.
Alam also researched guns, according to court filings, and talked about buying guns with an undercover officer. He told them he was interested in buying a Glock pistol.
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Officials said the undercover officer turned Alam to an “associate” who said he would help him get two illegal pistols.
Alam even got Lasik eye surgery in April, authorities said, with his explanation being, “Let’s say we are in an attack, right, say that my glasses fall off. What if I accidentally shoot you? You know what I mean. Imagine what the news channel would call me the ‘Looney Tunes Terrorist’ or the ‘Blind Terrorist.’”
One month later, the undercover officer told Alam that the guns he would buy would have obliterated serial numbers. He replied, “Oh, that’s good man,” officials said.
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The following month, Alam met with the person who he thought was going to sell him the pistols, who showed him the firearms with obliterated serial numbers.
Alam is said to have given $400 for the sale, and asked if the guns were compatible with a silencer.
Shortly after, Alam was arrested.
“Protecting our national security and the residents of this city, state and nation from the threat of terrorist attacks at home or abroad continues to be one of the highest priorities of this Office and its law enforcement partners,” said Peace following Alam’s guilty plea.
Alam was not hit with terrorism charges, and officials have said he did not pose an immediate threat.
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