Man Held Over Christmas Attack Plot in San Francisco

In this Sept. 18, 2013, file photo, spectators at Pier 39 watch Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA during the 11th race of the America's Cup sailing event in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
In this Sept. 18, 2013, file photo, spectators at Pier 39 watch Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA during the 11th race of the America's Cup sailing event in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
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Man Held Over Christmas Attack Plot in San Francisco

In this Sept. 18, 2013, file photo, spectators at Pier 39 watch Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA during the 11th race of the America's Cup sailing event in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
In this Sept. 18, 2013, file photo, spectators at Pier 39 watch Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA during the 11th race of the America's Cup sailing event in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

Federal agents arrested a former US Marine on Friday for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired Christmas attack in San Francisco’s busy Pier 39 tourist spot, according to court documents.

Tow truck driver Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, outlined to undercover agents how he wanted to use explosives to target crowds at the pier between December 18 and 25 because "Christmas was the perfect day to commit the attack", according to an affidavit submitted by FBI Special Agent Christopher McKinney.

Jameson professed not to need an escape plan as he was "ready to die," said the document. 

The suspect's home in Modesto, California, was raided by FBI agents on Wednesday, where they allegedly found his last will and testament along with several weapons and ammunition.

Jameson attended basic training with the Marine Corps in 2009 and graduated with a "sharpshooter" rifle qualification, according to the FBI, but was discharged after failing to disclose a history of asthma.

According to McKinney, Jameson selected Pier 39 because "he had been there before and knew it was a heavily crowded area."

"Jameson explained that he also desired to use explosives and described a plan in which explosives could 'tunnel' or 'funnel' people into a location where Jameson could inflict casualties," McKinney stated.

The suspect inadvertently revealed his plans to an undercover FBI agent he believed to be a senior ISIS leader, according to the court document.

Jameson said the US needed "another attack like New York or San Bernardino," adding that he wanted to use vehicles and firearms to carry out an attack.

"Today, our incredible law enforcement officers have once again helped thwart an alleged plot to kill Americans," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.  

The terrorist threat “is real -- and it is serious -- but the American people can be assured that the Department of Justice remains vigilant in protecting our homeland," he added.

According to the criminal complaint, Jameson has espoused radical beliefs, “including authoring social media posts that are supportive of terrorism."

He had voiced support for the October 31 attack in New York in which a militant drove a pick-up truck into a crowded bike path, killing eight people, said the FBI, and was active on Facebook, "liking" pro-ISIS posts.

The FBI began investigating in mid-September when it learned that Jameson was expressing support for posts that favored terrorism or ISIS. He "loved" an online post on November 29 of a terror propaganda image of Santa Claus standing in New York with a box of dynamite.

Jameson was charged in the Eastern District Court of California with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

At the court hearing, he was ordered held for a Dec. 28 detention hearing.



European Powers May Restore UN Sanctions on Iran

FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
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European Powers May Restore UN Sanctions on Iran

FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa

The European troika, known as the E3, may restore UN sanctions on Iran under the snapback mechanism, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Tuesday, warning that the move could increase Tehran's suffering unless it takes a serious stance on stepping back from its nuclear program.

Speaking to the UK parliament’s foreign affairs select committee, Lammy said: “Iran faces even more pressure in the coming weeks because the E3 can snap back on our sanctions, and it’s not just our sanctions, it’s actually a UN mechanism that would impose dramatic sanctions on Iran across nearly every single front in its economy.”

“So they have a choice to make. It’s a choice for them to make. I’m very clear about the choice they should make, but I’m also clear that the UK has a decision to make that could lead to far greater pain for the Iranian regime unless they get serious about the international desire to see them step back from their nuclear ambitions,” he added.

Meanwhile, a French diplomatic source told Reuters on Tuesday that European powers would have to restore UN sanctions on Iran if there were no nuclear deal that guaranteed European security interests.

The source spoke after a call between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Lammy ahead of a Franco-British summit.

Last Thursday, France threatened “retaliatory measures” against Tehran if it persisted with new charges against a French couple held in Iran, including accusations that they spied for Israel.

Snapback Mechanism

France, Britain and Germany - the E3 – are threatening to activate the snapback mechanism that would reinstate all United Nations Security Council sanctions previously levied on Iran.

According to diplomats, the E3 countries may trigger the snapback by August if no substantial deal can be found by then. The window closes on October 18.

UN resolution 2231 allows a State Party to the agreement to address a complaint to the Security Council about significant non-performance by another JCPOA participant.

Within 30 days of receiving such a notification, the UN Security Council shall vote on a draft resolution to either maintain the termination of previous sanctions or allow them to be reimposed.

European powers are considering triggering the snapback mechanism after Iran's decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).