An Iraqi citizen living in Columbus, Ohio, has been arrested on charges of plotting to assassinate former US President George W. Bush, CNN reported.
Court documents describe how Shihab spied on the Dallas neighborhood where Bush’s residence is located.
“President Bush has confidence in the United States Secret Service and our law enforcement and intelligence agencies,” said Freddie Ford, Bush’s chief of staff. The conspiracy was revealed through informants, one of whom provided the FBI with recordings of discussions about the organization of the murder involving Shihab during meetings late last year and in the spring.
During a meeting in November, Shihab allegedly told an FBI informant that “they want to kill former President Bush because they believe he is responsible for the deaths of many Iraqis and the destruction of Iraq.” Shihab describes himself as an al-Raed soldier.
Shihab and the informant drove to the neighborhood where Bush’s residence is located in Dallas, where Shihab made videos of the gate to access the neighborhood and the surrounding area. They then visited the George W. Bush Institute to photograph the library and the main building of the institute.
The following month, the informant met with Shihab and showed him firearms and the uniform of the US Border Patrol. Court documents say the firearms and uniform were provided to the FBI informant.
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