Last week the FBI thwarted a terror attack when federal agents arrested a man who, sources said, was planning to throw an explosive device into a South Florida synagogue.
According to law enforcement sources, the FBI set up a sting to thwart what they described as a terror attack at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, Friday evening.
Sources said agents posing as terrorists were able to stop James Medina who is said to have converted to Islam.
Sources told 7News they are concerned about this case because Medina wanted to take some type of explosive device and chuck it over the wall. Friday was the next-to-last day of Passover, and the centre was crowded with people observing the holiday.
Concerned residents said they were disturbed by the arrest. “I think about, before we had a baby, that we used to go there for services, and God forbid, it could have been us,” said Stephanie Levine. “Thank God they stopped him, but had they not, it would have been such a horrible thing to happen to this neighbourhood.”
The Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center released a statement in the wake of the terror threats: “The leadership of our congregation has been briefed by law enforcement and Jewish community security officials about this situation. They assured us that the synagogue and school were never at risk at any time during the investigation and arrest, and that there are no credible threats directed against us at the present time.”
Sources said the center was never in danger because Medina was taken into custody before any harm was done.
Source: WSVN
