FBI: Man Arrested for Plotting Mass Shooting at a Masonic Temple

The FBI has arrested a man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who was reportedly plotting a mass shooting at a Masonic temple. The officials stated that Samy Mohamed Hamzeh, 23, had plans to carry out the attack with the intention of becoming a world wide known Islamic extremist.

"I am telling you, if this hit is executed, it will be known all over the world," Hamzeh had reportedly said to two confidential sources identified as CS-1 and CS-2 in Arabic according to the agency's news release. "All over the world, all the mujahedeen will be talking and they will be proud of us ... We are marching at the front of the war."

He had continued, "Thirty is excellent. If I got out, after killing 30 people, I will be happy 100 percent ... 100 percent happy, because these 30 will terrify the world."

The department stated that Hamzeh was arrested on Tuesday. Hamzeh has been charged with possessing machine guns and a silencer.

Hamzeh has been under FBI surveillance since October 2015. At that time, he had several conservations with CS-1 and CS-2 about purchasing weapons. The conversations between the sources and Hamzeh were all monitored and recorded.

On Jan. 19, 2016, Hamzeh reportedly gave CS-1 and CS-2 a tour of his target, the Masonic temple in Milwaukee. He also told them about his plans, which were extremely detailed. Hamzeh had descriptions for where he and his attackers would stand and how they would escape.

On Jan. 25, 2016, Hamzeh brought CS-1 and CS-2 with him to buy guns from two undercover FBI agents.

The release detailed the exchange:

"The undercover agents displayed the weapons and a silencer to Hamzeh, told him that the weapons were capable of automatic fire, and explained to him the functioning of the selector switch that allowed the weapons to fire automatically. Hamzeh agreed to a price and paid it to the undercover agents, who then handed Hamzeh a bag containing two automatic weapons and a silencer. Hamzeh carried the bag to the vehicle in which he had traveled to the meeting, and he placed the bag in the trunk of the vehicle. He then was arrested."

"Samy Mohamed Hamzeh devised a detailed plan to commit a mass shooting intended to kill dozens of people," acting U.S. attorney Gregory J. Haanstad said in a statement. "He also said that he wanted this mass shooting to be 'known the world over' and to 'ignite' broader clashes. It is difficult to calculate the injury and loss of life that was prevented by concerned citizens coming forward and by the tireless efforts of the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force."

Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Kanter will be the prosecutor in the case.