Seattle man implicated in plot to blow up military recruiting station 
 
 This is a 2004 photo provided by the Washington State Department of Corrections showing Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, also known as Joseph Anthony Davis, of Seattle. Davis, and Walli Mujahidh, also known as Frederick Domingue Jr., of Los Angeles, were arrested Wednesday night, June 22, 2011. They men were arrested at a warehouse garage when they arrived to pick up machine guns to use in an alleged terror plot. less This is a 2004 photo provided by the Washington State Department of Corrections showing Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, also known as Joseph Anthony Davis, of Seattle. Davis, and Walli Mujahidh, also known as Frederick ... more Photo: AP Photo: AP Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close Seattle man implicated in plot to blow up military recruiting station 1 / 13 Back to Gallery 
 
 Two men have been charged in a purported suicide terror plot aimed at a Seattle federal building used to induct new recruits into the armed services. 
 
 Federal prosecutors contend Tukwila resident Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif was the mastermind of the plot aimed at the Military Entrance Processing Station on East Marginal Way in South Seattle. He and alleged co-conspirator Walli Mujahidh, a 32-year-old Los Angeles resident, were arrested Wednesday. 
 
 They made a brief federal court appearance Thursday and are scheduled back in court next Wednesday. If convicted, each faces a minimum 30 years in prison to a maximum of life. 
 
 In court documents, Abdul-Latif is described as a man who idolized Osama bin Laden and was incensed about American military activities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen. He allegedly was preparing to acquire weapons for an attack on the South Seattle center. 
 
 Prosecutors claim the plot was thwarted in the 11th hour after another Muslim man approached by Abdul-Latif in late May went to a Seattle police detective. That Muslim man allegedly acted as an informant in recent weeks, helped record Abdul-Latif during a series of conversations and provided him with disabled guns provided by law enforcement. 
 
 During the recorded conversations, Abdul-Latif allegedly expounded on his desire to kill Americans and said he admired Osama bin Laden. 
 
 “Abdul-Latif said that ‘jihad’ in America should be a ‘physical jihad,’ and not just ‘media jihad,’ expressing his view that it was necessary to take action rather than just talk,” an FBI agent told the court. “Abdul-Latif referred to the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, when a single gunman killed 13 people. 
 
 “Abdul-Latif said that if one person could kill so many people, three attackers could kill many more.” 
 
 Prosecutors claim Abdul-Latif, a convicted felon who has lived in Washington since at least 2001 and previously served in the Navy, had become increasingly angry about the war crimes allegedly perpetrated by a group of Fort Lewis-based soldiers. 
 
 In 2003, Abdul-Latif was sentenced to five years for assaulting a prison guard in Walla Walla, while serving a two-year stint for first-degree robbery, court records show. Prior to that, his criminal history included misdemeanor convictions for assault, malicious mischief and obstructing. 
 
 In May, he filed for bankruptcy. He wrote that he was self-employed and listed a business called "Fresh and Clean Janitorial" as part of his assets. He was making $2,000 a month. 
 
 Abdul-Latif lived recently in Tukwila and SeaTac. A Muslim greeting was on the front door of the SeaTac apartment. Residents there pointed to his red truck, which has the name of his janitorial service. 
 
 Born Joseph Anthony Davis, he changed his name to Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif in 2007. 
 
 He and Mujahidh, who was also known as Frederick Domingue, Jr., have each been charged with multiple counts related to the alleged plot. In a statement Thursday, U.S. Attorney for Western Washington Jenny A. Durkan called the arrests “a sobering reminder of our need to be vigilant and that our first line of defense is the people who live in our community.” 
 
 "We were able to disrupt the plot because someone stepped forward and reported it to authorities,” Durkan said. “The object of the conspiracy was to kill officers and employees of the Department of Defense who worked at the (center) located in the Federal Center South building in Seattle … and to kill other persons assisting such officers and employees.” 
 
 Added Seattle Police Chief John Diaz: 
 
 “This attack was foiled because of the trust and relationships the men and women of the Seattle Police Department enjoy with our community The complainant felt safe approaching a Seattle police detective and, in doing so, ended the plot intended to take innocent lives. This cooperative investigation involving local, state, and federal partners worked exactly as intended.” 
 
 According to charging documents, Abdul-Latif attempted to recruit the third man on May 30, explaining that he and Mujahidh were planning to attack a military facility. The man went to Seattle police and began working with authorities as a paid informant. 
 
 Writing the court, FBI Special Agent Albert C. Kelly, III, said Abdul-Latif was recorded expressing his anger about United States activities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen, and saying that he believed killing American soldiers was justifiable. 
 
 “This investigation revealed that Abdul-Latif and Mujahidh conspired to attack a United States military facility and to murder employees and officers of the United States military,” Kelly told the court. “The defendants planned to carry out the attack using fully-automatic weapons, pistols, and fragmentation grenades. 
 
 “Their goal was to kill and maim numerous officers and employees of the United States Military.” 
 
 The men had initially aimed at attacking Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Tacoma, but later changed their aim to the two-story South Seattle intake center. The center is next to a child-care center. 
 
 The FBI agent told the court the plan was revealed when Abdul-Latif attempted to recruit a third person into the plot. That individual contacted authorities and served as a confidential source. 
 
 “Abdul-Latif trusted the source and believed that the source held similar ideology,” Kelly told the court. “Abdul-Latif also believe that the source could help the conspirators get the weapons they would need for the attack.” 
 
 The informant, a convicted felon, met with Seattle detectives on June 4 and said he’d met with Abdul-Latif six days before. The informant then began to divulge details of the purported plot, including that Abdul-Latif had intended to attack the Tacoma base. 
 
 In early June, Abdul-Latif and Mujahidh spoke with the informant, offering details on the planned attack. They met outside the recruiting station to conduct reconnaissance at the center. According to charging documents, Abdul-Latif told the informant he was not worried about a security guard spotted outside the center. 
 
 “We’ll just kill him right away,” Abdul-Latif allegedly said. “We can kill him first.” 
 
 Later that day, June 8, Abdul-Latif told the informant which guns, ammunition and grenades to acquire for the attack. Abdul-Latif and the informant inspected “representative samples” of the weapons a week later, the FBI agent told the court. 
 
 Traveling by bus from Los Angeles, Mujahidh arrived in Seattle on Monday or Tuesday and met with the other two men. On Wednesday the men met again to discuss the plot. 
 
 Abdul-Latif knew very little about firearms but believed the informant could assist him in getting them, according to charging documents. 
 
 Acting on instructions from Seattle police, the informant continued to meet with Abdul-Latif, which were recorded, Kelly continued. 
 
 “Abdul-Latif told the source that he wanted to acquire, for use in the attack, AK-47 assault rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade, grenades, and bullet proof vests,” the FBI agent told the court. 
 
 “Abdul-Latif said that, if he was killed in the attack, his son would be proud that he fought the ‘non-believers,’” the agent continued. 
 
 According to charging documents, Abdul-Latif told the Mujahidh and the informant their objective was to “take out anybody wearing green or a badge.” 
 
 Having initially planned to ram a truck through the front gate at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the plotters shifted their focus to the South Seattle station in early June, Kelly continued. According to charging documents, Abdul-Latif said he believed such an attack would deter others from joining the military. 
 
 Prosecutors contend Abdul-Latif also thought the attack would inspire others. 
 
 “Imagine how many young Muslims, if we’re successful, will try to hit these kids of centers,” he allegedly said. “Imagine how fearful America will be, and they’ll know they can’t push Muslims around.” 
 
 At one point, Abdul-Latif suggested they make a video explaining the aims of the attack that could be distributed afterward. 
 
 Law enforcement provided the informant with weapons – a Heckler & Koch submachine gun, a M-16-style rifle and fragmentation grenade – prior to a June 14 meeting. All had been rendered inoperable before the meeting. 
 
 Abdul-Latif examined the weapons later that day, according to charging documents. The men then reviewed a map of the center, and Abdul-Latif suggested a plan of attack. 
 
 In the days following, Abdul-Latif provided the informant with money to buy the weapons, the FBI agent continued. 
 
 Mujahidh arrived in Seattle on June 21 from Los Angeles to participate in the attack, Kelly told the court. According to charging documents, he said the attack would help him atone for his sins. 
 
 “This is my way of getting rid of sins, man,” Mujahidh allegedly said. “I got so many of ‘em. … I got a bunch of ‘em.” 
 
 Mujahidh also said he didn’t expect to survive the attack. 
 
 “We’re not walking out of there alive,” he said, according to court documents. 
 
 Kelly told the court planning continued through Wednesday evening, when the guns were delivered and the plotters were arrested. 
 
 Following his arrest, Mujahidh allegedly admitted to planning the attack. Abdul-Latif did not. 
 
 Neighbors at the SeaTac apartment on South 180th Street knew little about Abdul-Latif. 
 
 He rarely said anything beyond hello, and even told one neighbor, Jimmy Mack, to mind his own business on first meeting him. 
 
 “I told my wife, ‘Don’t say much to him, don’t say nothing,’ ” Mack said Thursday. “He just had a stare, and I didn’t like that.” 
 
 Neighbors said his wife, who would dress with an Islamic scarf covering much of her face, was friendly. She and Abdul-Latif were outside their apartment often playing with their young son. 
 
 “He was quiet, like he wouldn’t say anything,” said Mocaia Walton, 15. “But he would always come outside with his son, and his wife would come outside with his son.” 
 
 Another neighbor, Abdi Mohamed, said he thought Abdul-Latif had lived there for several years. Mohamed is a Muslim, but he said Abdul-Latif never discussed religion with him. 
 
 Check the Seattle 911 crime blog for more Seattle crime news. Visit seattlepi.com's home page for more Seattle news. 
 
 Vanessa Ho and Casey McNerthney of seattlepi.com contributed to this report. 
 
 Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk. ||||| Originally published June 23, 2011 at 12:50 PM | Page modified June 24, 2011 at 1:55 PM 
 
 The Justice Department says two men have been arrested in a plot to attack a military recruit processing station in Seattle with machine guns and grenades. 
 
 There was a point in the alleged conspiracy to maim and kill recruits and workers at a Military Entrance Processing Station in South Seattle when one of the plotters predicted they would be making headlines. 
 
 They did, just not in the way intended. 
 
 Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, also known as Joseph Anthony Davis, 33, of SeaTac, and Walli Mujahidh, aka Frederick Domingue Jr., 32, of Los Angeles, appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Thursday on charges alleging they purchased machine guns and grenades from a paid police informant earlier this week as they moved into the final stages of planning an attack they hoped would inspire an uprising among radical Muslims in the United States. 
 
 Mujahidh arrived in Seattle from Los Angeles on Tuesday and he, Abdul-Latif and the informant went to lunch, according to details contained in a 38-page complaint. The men discussed details of the attack, including where they would hide the weapons. 
 
 The informant predicted, according to the complaint, that the case would make the news, and Mujahidh "described the imaginary headline of a newspaper article: 'Three Muslim Males Walk Into MEPS building, Seattle, Washington, and Gun Down Everybody.' " 
 
 The men face up to life in prison if convicted. 
 
 Details contained in the complaint and gleaned from other court documents and interviews show the men to be "self-radicalized," with no known affiliation to al-Qaida or other terrorist organizations. 
 
 Both men are U.S. citizens and converts to Islam, according to the charges. Abdul-Latif is a felon who spent 2 ½ years in prison on robbery and assault charges. Mujahidh had been living in Los Angeles, but came to Seattle as the plan developed, according to the charges. He has no felony criminal history, although he was named in a civil domestic-violence protective order filed in King County in 2007 by his wife. 
 
 The men are charged with conspiracy to murder U.S. officers, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (a grenade) and other firearms-related counts. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler ordered them held pending a detention hearing next Wednesday. The maximum penalty for the crimes is life in prison; however, the firearms-related counts carry 30-year mandatory minimum sentences. 
 
 U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan urged people to keep the arrests in perspective. 
 
 "These are the actions of individuals who adhere to a violent and extreme ideology and do not represent and should not reflect on the Muslim community as a whole," she said. "We hope there is no backlash here. That would not be fair or what we stand for." 
 
 How police found out 
 
 The complaint details an escalating plot discovered by police on May 30 after Abdul-Latif approached another man who he believed shared a radical Islamic ideology. 
 
 The charges allege that Abdul-Latif had known the man for several years and believed he could help him obtain weapons he wanted to use to attack the U.S. military because of events in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen. 
 
 The man, however, went to Seattle police. The complaint does not identify the informant by name, but describes him as a five-time felon who was paid for his efforts. 
 
 As a result, many of the conversations and actions of the men over the past four weeks were recorded, according to the charges. 
 
 The men were arrested after the informant delivered three automatic rifles and several grenades — all secretly rendered inoperable — to the men Tuesday night at a warehouse in Seattle. 
 
 According to charges, Abdul-Latif was recorded saying his anger over the United States military's real or perceived activities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen motivated the planned attack. 
 
 A law-enforcement source familiar with the investigation said that Abdul-Latif was upset at revelations coming from military courts-martial proceedings against a group of soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord accused of murdering innocent civilians in Afghanistan. 
 
 The men at first considered attacking the base, but decided it was too difficult a target. 
 
 The complaint says Abdul-Latif had said he admired Osama bin Laden. 
 
 FBI agents seized a number of DVDs and other materials from Abdul-Latif's home. "There was a lot of mujahedeen stuff. A lot of radical literature," the source said. 
 
 Abdul-Latif's wife, Binta Moussa-Davis, 46, said Thursday night that she hasn't seen nor heard from her husband since he left with Mujahidh and another man — the FBI informant — on Wednesday night. 
 
 "The next thing I know the FBI is here, 'Bam, bam, bam' they knock and they come in and they search the entire house," she said. "They said they arrested my husband. That he had been with bad men. 
 
 "I don't know anything more. He is a very good person. He worked hard and then he come home and watch TV," she said. "I don't even know how this could happen." 
 
 According to the complaint, the confidential informant asked Abdul-Latif and Mujahihd repeatedly about their commitment to the attack. Both said they would go forward and were involved in fine-tuning the plan over the three weeks before their arrests. 
 
 On June 14, Abdul-Latif met with the informant, who showed him several weapons provided by federal agents for a "show and tell." The meeting was taped. Abdul-Latif chose an M16-style weapon because it had more firepower that would "leave a bigger hole," according to the charges. 
 
 He said he would pay for the weapons with money he had set aside for a religious pilgrimage. 
 
 Last week, the paid informant was sent by the group to scout the MEPS facility, and the trio huddled over a diagram of the floor plan at Abdul-Latif's apartment and discussed a step-by-step plan for attack. 
 
 At least twice during the investigation, Abdul-Latif said the attack was inspired by the murderous shooting spree at Fort Hood in 2009, where a Muslim Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, killed 13 people and wounded 29 others. 
 
 The men planned to storm the building, kill the security guards, order everyone to the floor and kill as many military recruits as possible, according to the federal complaint. They talked about how they would target men wearing green and with short haircuts, according to the charges. The men scouted the center and discussed in detail the attack, including plans to kill the security guard in the lobby and order everyone else to the floor. 
 
 Grenades would be thrown in the cafeteria, and then they would walk through the hallways, firing their assault weapons, the complaint says. 
 
 "Driven by a violent, extreme ideology, these two young Americans are charged with plotting to murder men and women who were enlisting in the armed forces to serve and protect our country," said Todd Hinnen, acting assistant attorney general for national security, adding that this "is one of a number of recent plots targeting our military here at home." 
 
 In Seattle, outside the military processing center Thursday afternoon, many of the 600 center employees were enjoying an annual picnic, an event that almost didn't happen because of the plot. 
 
 "We were about ready to cancel the picnic," said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Anthony Wright. 
 
 Wright said the plot was the most serious threat made against the center in three years, but he wouldn't elaborate on any previous threats that were made. 
 
 The federal center, a brick building mostly hidden by trees from the street, houses 300 workers along with the processing center workers. It's one of a network of 65 such MEPS facilities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. 
 
 In the wake of the arrests, Gov. Chris Gregoire and Sen. Maria Cantwell both issued statements thanking law-enforcement agencies for their work. 
 
 "These arrests highlight the need for continued vigilance, and the importance of communication between our local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies," Cantwell said. "Today, our thoughts and prayers go out to America's military, who put their lives on the line to defend our country both at home and abroad." 
 
 Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com 
 
 Seattle Times staff reporters Steve Miletich, Susan Kelleher, Jessie Van Berkel and J.B. Wogan and news researchers David Turim, Gene Balk and Miyoko Wolf contributed to this report.
– Another potential terror plot foiled: Seattle police arrested two men they say planned a suicide attack on a federal building that houses a military recruitment office and a federal day care center, report the Post-Intelligencer and Seattle Times. One suspect is identified as Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, 33, who was born Joseph Anthony Davis but changed his name in 2007 after converting to Islam and becoming "self-radicalized," police say. He idolized Osama bin Laden and raged against US military action overseas, according to court documents. The other suspect is Walli Mujahidh, 32, also known as Frederick Dominique Jr., of Los Angeles. A third Muslim man told authorities about the plot when Abdul-Latif asked him to help carry it out. He then worked undercover with police. Abdul-Latif reportedly wanted to use the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, in which 13 people were killed, as a model. “Abdul-Latif said that if one person could kill so many people, three attackers could kill many more," said an FBI agent. A detention hearing will take place next week.