Chicago man arrested in alleged plot after leaving what he to be an explosive on street corner

Chicago man arrested in alleged bomb plot

CHICAGO — Federal authorities say they’ve arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly placed a backpack on a crowded Chicago street corner over the weekend thinking it contained an explosive.

The FBI’s Chicago office says Sami Samir Hassoun is charged with one count each of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted use of an explosive device.

Hassoun was arrested after midnight Saturday. He had an initial appearance in a Chicago federal courtroom Monday afternoon.

The statement says the arrest was part of an investigation going back at least several months. It says the supposed explosive device was fake and given to Hassoun by an undercover agent.

A message was left at a home telephone number for Hassoun wasn’t returned.