A teenager from Philadelphia accused of planning to join terrorist groups overseas and creating bombs will be tried as an adult, according to the announcement by the District Attorney’s office on Wednesday. Muhyyee-Ud-din Abdul-Rahman, who was arrested at 17 and is now 18, had his bail set at $5 million. It remains unknown who is representing Abdul-Rahman in court, as court records were not accessible online, and there has been no response from the District Attorney’s office regarding legal representation. His father, a local defense attorney, has not commented on the matter yet.
Abdul-Rahman is said to have conducted numerous homemade bomb tests near his family’s residence before his arrest, with authorities claiming he was on the verge of being able to detonate devices with a significant blast range. Additionally, as his explosives knowledge grew, he allegedly searched online for potential targets, including the Philadelphia Pride parade and critical sites like power plants and military bases.
Law enforcement initiated investigations after intercepting electronic communications between Abdul-Rahman and terrorist organizations in Syria, which expressed his desire to become a bombmaker for groups known as Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ) and Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS). Both groups are designated as global terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Department. Further probing revealed Abdul-Rahman had been purchasing military gear, tactical equipment, and bomb-making materials.
Charges against Abdul-Rahman include possessing weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy, arson, and causing or risking a catastrophe. Prosecutors justified the decision to try him as an adult by citing the seriousness of the allegations and the lack of sufficient consequences or rehabilitation opportunities within the juvenile justice system.