Bail denied for Lebanese immigrant accused of attempted bombing near Chicago’s Wrigley Field

Judge denies bail for Chicago bomb suspect

CHICAGO — A federal judge says a man accused of trying to plant a bomb in Chicago must stay in jail while awaiting trial.

U.S. District Judge Susan Cox denied bail Wednesday to 22-year-old Sami Samir Hassoun, saying he is a danger and a flight risk.

The Lebanese immigrant allegedly dropped a backpack he thought contained a bomb near Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

But the device was fake, supplied by FBI undercover agents who had posed as co-plotters after an informant told them about Hassoun.

Hassoun was charged Monday with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and of an explosive device.

Cox told the courtroom that “it’s hard to imagine a more serious crime” than a threat to set off explosives in a city.