(WXYZ) - A local man is accused of being an supporter of ISIS and of planning a terror attack against a Detroit church in an affidavit that has been filed in federal court.

Khalil Abu-Rayyan has charged with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance (marijuana) who possessed a firearm which traveled in interstate commerce.

However, he is accused of planning crimes that were much more severe.

Abu-Rayyan has been the subject of FBI scrutiny since May of 2015. During their surveillance, officials monitored his social media accounts. The affidavit says among the things they saw on his accounts were re-tweets of ISIS propaganda, including video of a Jordanian fighter pilot being burned alive, men being thrown off high rise buildings to execute them, the beheading of Christians in Egypt and news of ISIS victories.

They also include posting by Abu-Rayyan, including a picture of him with two other individuals in camouflage. He appears to be holding a semi-automatic pistol and holding his index finger up in a gesture common to ISIS supporters.

Beginning in December 2015, an undercover investigator began interacting with Abu-Rayyan on social media...


...Also according to the affidavit, Abu-Rayyan told the undercover investigator:

I tried to shoot up a church one day. I don't know the name of it, but it's close to my job. It's one of the biggest ones in Detroit. Ya, I had it planned out. I bought a bunch of bullets. I practiced a lot with it. I practiced reloading and unloading. But my dad searched my car one day and he found everything. He found the gun and the bullets and a mask I was going to wear.


The affidavit says that Abu-Rayyan went on to say:

It's easy, and a lot of people go there. Plus people are not allowed to carry guns in church. Plus it would make the news. Everybody would've heard. Honestly I regret not doing it. (If I) can't go do jihad at the Middle East, I would do my jihad over here...


http://www.wxyz.com/news/region/wayn...detroit-church