Man Plotted To Bomb PA Nuclear Power Plants, Local Universities

PHILADELPHIA — A 19-year-old Philadelphia man was convicted on several charges related to terror plots that sought to bomb various targets in the region, including nuclear power plants.

Muhyyee-Ud-din Abdul-Rahman, 19, of Philadelphia, was found guilty Wednesday of possession of explosive material, risking catastrophe, recklessly endangering another person, and attempted possession of weapons of mass destruction, court records show.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said Abdul-Rahman built and possessed explosives and for plotted to attack possible targets.

These possible targets included the Philadelphia Pride Parade, a black university, the Army-Navy football game, Valley Forge Military Academy, nuclear power plants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and additional targets, the DA's office said.

Abdul-Rahman was charged in September 2024 after being arrested in August 2023.

Law enforcement started investigating Abdul-Rahman after they received electronic communications between him and terrorist organizations in Syria. These communications indicated that Rahman wanted to become a bomb maker for these groups, identified as Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ) and Hay'at Tahrir al Sham (HTS).

KTJ is officially designated by the U.S. State Department as a global terrorist organization and is affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

As the investigation continued with assistance from various law enforcement agencies, agents uncovered evidence that Abdul-Rahman was also gathering materials, including muriatic acid, potassium nitrate, and fertilizer, to construct explosives at his parents' residence.

Investigators also believe he tested such explosives a minimum of 12 times.

During this time, Abdul-Rahman was also purchasing tactical combat gear, including a chest rig that can store multiple AK-47 magazines, authorities said.

Abdul-Rahman also tried to make Triacetone Triperoxide, also called 'The Mother of Satan', which is considered an extremely potent and unstable type of explosive that even bomb technicians are prohibited from producing for testing purposes.

After being Mirandized, Abdul-Rahman was interviewed at length by law enforcement, in which he admitted his intent to assist terrorists overseas as a bomb maker. Agents subsequently conducted cell phone analysis after Abdul-Rahman gave investigators access to two devices. Internet search histories indicated that Abdul-Rahman was interested in the dates and times of local parades, including the Philadelphia Pride Parade.

Investigators also discovered evidence of his hatred for the LGBTQ+ community. Additional evidence indicated his interest in potentially targeting critical infrastructure throughout the region, including power plants and domestic military bases.

"We are grateful for the work of Assistant District Attorney Christopher Angelo, Supervisor of our Juvenile Unit, along with our justice partners, for collaborating on this investigation which likely prevented a horrific tragedy," District Attorney Larry Krasner said last year. "I also want to take this opportunity to denounce this defendant's twisted ideology, which in no way represents the overwhelming majority of peaceful people of faith, including the Muslim community. I hope Philadelphians join me in condemning hatred, bigotry, and violent political views in all of their forms."