Overview

Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif—born Joseph Anthony Davis—is an American convert to Islam serving an 18-year prison sentence for a 2011 terror plot. Abdul-Latif, along with two co-conspirators—one of them an FBI informant—had planned to attack a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in Seattle, Washington.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 1.

Between 2010 and 2011, Abdul-Latif operated a YouTube channel under the username “Akabdullatif.”Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, “Akabdullatif,” YouTube, accessed 7/6/2016, https://www.youtube.com/user/akabdullatif. Of the 22 uploads on his channel—active as of late 2016—13 are unoriginal content and include conspiracy documentaries on 9/11 and U.S. ambitions to destroy Islam. The other nine videos are religious diatribes and rants by Abdul-Latif.Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, “Akabdullatif,” YouTube, accessed 7/6/2016, https://www.youtube.com/user/akabdullatif. In many of these videos, he espouses on U.S. “plots” to plunder and destroy the Middle East and Islam. In others, he calls on Muslims to take up jihad and seek martyrdom.“The Seattle Terror Plot & Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif’s Online Messages,” Anti-Defamation League, June 30, 2011, www.adl.org/combating-hate/international-extremism-terrorism/c/abdul-latif-seattle-plot.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/#.V328qbgrI2w.

Abdul-Latif is believed to have venerated al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. In one of Abdul-Latif’s YouTube videos—posted ten months before Awlaki’s September 2011 death in a U.S. drone strike—Abdul-Latif argued: “[U.S. President Barack Obama has] made war against Islam. He’s even put a hit on Anwar al Awlaki, our brother sheik, may Allah protect him.”Akabdullatif, “Advice for the Ummah,” YouTube video, 14:58, Posted November 18, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWnzecATWIM;
“Obituary: Anwar al-Awlaki,” BBC News, September 30, 2011, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11658920. Adul-Latif also commented on a YouTube video in which Awlaki discussed the 2009 Fort Hood shootings, saying, “Hopefully there will be more soldiers who come out of the woodwork to serve Allah.”“The Seattle Terror Plot & Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif’s Online Messages,” Anti-Defamation League, June 30, 2011, www.adl.org/combating-hate/international-extremism-terrorism/c/abdul-latif-seattle-plot.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/#.V328qbgrI2w. In addition, Abdul-Latif created a YouTube playlist called “Islamic Jihad,” which contained multiple lectures by al-Qaeda co-founder Abdullah Azzam.Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, “Akabdullatif,” YouTube, Accessed 7/6/2016, https://www.youtube.com/user/akabdullatif.

In March 2011, Abdul-Latif and a Los Angeles man named Walli Mujahidh began planning a terror attack on a U.S. military installation, tentatively selecting Joint Base Lewis-McChord. On May 30, 2011, Abdul-Latif approached his friend, felon and sex offender Robert Childs, to participate in the attack.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 37. Several days later, Childs reported the plot to members of the Seattle Police Department, who subsequently hired him as an informant.Trevor Aaronson, “FBI Informant Faces Criminal Trial in Key West,” Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, December 26, 2014, www.fcir.org/2014/12/26/fbi-informant-faces-criminal-trial-in-key-west/.

According to the FBI, Abdul-Latif sought to attack the U.S. military as retribution for what he perceived as atrocities committed against Muslims by U.S. soldiers. In private conversations with Childs, Abdul-Latif referenced the November 2009 Fort Hood shooting, and asserted that three attackers would be able to cause more damage than one.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 14.

On June 3, 2011, Childs—working as an undercover agent—met with Abdul-Latif and informed him that he would provide firearms for use in the attack.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 13. Three days later, the pair met again and Walli Mujahidh joined via cell phone.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 15. They decided to instead target a Military Entry Processing Station (MEPS) because of heightened security levels at the base.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 16. Abdul-Latif argued that in attacking a MEPS station, they would be killing recruits who would otherwise be sent to fight Muslims in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 17.

On June 8, Abdul-Latif and Childs scouted the outside of the Seattle MEPS facility, noting the locations of cameras and guards.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 18. The pair met again two days later and discussed procedure and equipment for the attack.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 20. Soon after, Childs provided firearms and grenades—via the FBI—for Abdul-Latif to inspect.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 24. Additionally, they purchased a bus ticket for Mujahidh which scheduled him to arrive in Seattle on June 21.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 23.

On June 22, the trio met at a Seattle warehouse garage in order to collect the weapons, which the FBI had placed in a duffle bag. FBI agents arrested Abdul-Latif and Mujahidh as they attempted to leave the premises with the weaponry.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 36.

Throughout the planning process Abdul-Latif insisted, as recorded by the FBI, that the targets of the attack were members, or aspiring members, of the U.S. military. Abdul-Latif proposed targeting active duty military personnel and recruits, identifying them by uniform and haircut.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 19.

Abdul-Latif was charged with four counts, including conspiracy to murder officers and employees of the United States.“Amended Complaint for Violations: United States of America v. Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif a/k/a Joseph Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh a/k/a Frederick Domingue, Jr.” United States District Court Western District of Washington at Seattle, June 23, 2011, 8. In December 2012, Abdul-Latif pled guilty to conspiracy to murder officers and agents of the United States and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.“Seattle Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Seattle Military Processing Center,” U.S. Attorney’s Office, December 6, 2012, 1. In March 2013, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release.“Seattle Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Seattle Military Processing Center,” U.S. Attorney’s Office, December 6, 2012, 1.