An indeterminate man of unknown origin with possible “ideological motivations” has been arrested for plotting a terror attack in Illinois. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

WASHINGTON - A man was arrested in the Chicago area on Friday for allegedly plotting to attack Rockford, Ill., over the holidays, officials told NBC News.

The plan involved a bombing and a shooting, the officials said. The man had no accomplices and was not part of a terrorist cell, sources said on condition of anonymity. He will be appearing in court later Friday, NBC’s Pete Williams reported.

A court appearance originally scheduled for 12:45 pm ET was delayed, offiicals said. They did not say when it was going to be held.

The FBI has been aware of the plot and has been monitoring him closely, Williams reported. The plan was allegedly ideologically motivated. No other details were released, but authorities said the arrest eliminated the risk of the attack being carried out.

UPDATE at 12/8/06 10:21:47 am:

More details at CBS 2 Chicago: Suspect Arrested In Alleged Chicago Terror Plot.

Law enforcement officials say the man was a U.S. citizen, and planned to commit some sort of terrorist attack in Chicago. The man had “ideas and desires, but no means,” law enforcement sources said.

A source said earlier that the alleged plot might have involved a shopping mall, but later information did not specify what the target was.

Law enforcement officials added that the alleged plot was not on the level of 9/11, and even “three rungs below” the recent Miami plot that was disrupted. That plot involved alleged plans to blow up Chicago’s Sears Tower.

The man arrested Friday is considered a lone operator without ties to any known terrorist organization, law enforcement sources said.

Another case of Sudden Buddhist Syndrome?

UPDATE at 12/8/06 10:47:28 am:

CNN puts a name to the mystery man: Man arrested in mall attack plot, source says.

The man — described as a U.S. citizen named Derrick Shareef — faces charges for allegedly planning to set off hand grenades in garbage cans in malls during the holiday season.

He was arrested Wednesday, the source said.

A criminal complaint filed against him was unsealed Friday. He is to be charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and with planning to damage or destroy buildings by fire or explosion, the source said.

UPDATE at 12/8/06 10:53:07 am:

The Guardian has a tiny insignificant detail no one else seems to think is important: Man Charged With Shopping Mall Bomb Plot.

Federal officials said that in September, Shareef became acquainted with a witness who was cooperating with the FBI and confided to him that he wanted to commit acts of “violent jihad,” as well as other crimes.

UPDATE at 12/8/06 10:56:38 am:

The Smoking Gun has the FBI affidavit. Turns out Shareef isn’t a Buddhist after all.

Shopping Mall Terror Plot Foiled. (Hat tip: zombie.)

DECEMBER 8—An Illinois man plotted to set off hand grenades at shopping malls in a holiday season terror campaign that was thwarted by federal investigators. According to an FBI affidavit, Derrick Shareef, 22, told a confidential source that he wanted to “commit violent acts of jihad,” and spoke of killing judges and blowing up public buildings. A copy of the affidavit can be found below. Shareef told the snitch that he sought “to disrupt Christmas,” adding that, “I swear by Allah man, I’m down for it too, I’m down for the cause, I’m down to live for the cause and die for the cause, man.” The document does not further describe the supposed cause of Shareef, who was named today in a federal felony complaint. Shareef is quoted telling the FBI source, “I probably would have eventually ended up stabbing the shit outta some Jews or something. Just stabbing them niggers with a steak knife…Because during that war with Hezbollah, man, I had already started to look at synagogues out here…”

UPDATE at 12/8/06 11:27:00 am:

Zombie emailed a transcription of the crucial section of the affidavit (UI = unintelligible), in which Shareef talks about what MSNBC called his “ideological motivations:”

A few minutes after SHAREEF and the CS discussed shaving their body hair and meditating, SHAREEF stated: “I’m ready man, these Kafirs [a term translated as ‘infidel’] don’t give a damn about us, niggers don’t care what happens to the Umma [an Arabic word meaning community or nation that is commonly used to mean the collective nation of Islamic states], about sisters getting raped, about brothers losing their (UI). They don’t care, man. All they care about is (UI)…I probably would have eventually ended up just stabbing the shit outta some Jews or something. Just stabbing them niggers with a steak knife. Dude, I ain’t gonna lie. Because during that war with Hezbollah, man, I had already started to look at synagogues out here and in the DeKalb area and everything. I was looking at synagogues, I was doing MapQuest…. One of them was down the block from the masjid [mosque], I knew that they do their thing on Saturdays, right. I was like, I’m gonna lay low out here, I’m gonna camp out overnight, be out there on Friday night after Jumma [Friday prayer] or Saturday morning about 12:00 or 1:00 o’clock. I be there. And as soon as I see them fools going in the building, I had planned on trying to grab one, depending on how it was, niggers trying to run in the building all at once and open up shop, I was just going to go over there and shank one or two of them.” A few minutes later, SHAREEF stated: “They definitely gonna know that this shit ain’t over, and they not as safe as they thought.”

UPDATE at 12/8/06 11:35:14 am:

He made a martyrdom video (hat tip: loppyd) and the name he used wasn’t exactly “Derrick.”

This may be my last will and testament, the last words I have spoken to those who know me, to those who do not know me. My name is Talib Abu Salam Ibn Shareef. I am 22 years of age. I am from America and this tape is to let you guys know, who disbelieve in Allah, to let the enemies of Islam know, and to let the Muslims alike know that the time for jihad is now….Be strong, oh Mujahaideen. Be strong oh brothers who want to fight for jihad…This is a warning to those who disbelieve, that we are here for you, and I am ready to give my life.

UPDATE at 12/8/06 3:52:23 pm:

Is Shareef a member of the Muslim Student Association? Shareef May Be Linked To Student Group.