Man arrested after planting fake explosive near Chicago’s Wrigley Field in FBI sting

Man arrested after planting fake bomb in Chicago

CHICAGO — A man arrested for allegedly placing a backpack he thought contained an explosive near the Chicago’s Wrigley Field also talked about poisoning Lake Michigan, bombing a landmark skyscraper or even assassinating Mayor Richard Daley, according to a federal complaint filed Monday.

Sami Samir Hassoun, 22, a Lebanese citizen living in Chicago, is charged with one count each of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted use of an explosive device, FBI’s Chicago office said in a statement.

He was arrested early Sunday after planting the fake explosive device, which was given to him by an undercover agent, the FBI said. The agency said the arrest was part of an investigation going back at least several months.

Hassoun on one occasion told an FBI informant that he wanted to paralyze commerce in the city, according to the complaint against him. Asked how he intended to carry out various suggested attacks, Hassoun responded, “You park the car, and let it go ‘boom,’” the complaint says.

At a brief hearing Monday, Hassoun stood before U.S. Judge Susan Cox in an orange jump suit, telling the judge in a soft voice that he understood the charges.

A message left on an answering machine at Hassoun’s home telephone number wasn’t returned Monday. Hassoun’s defense attorney, Dan McLaughlin, declined comment at Monday’s hearing.