Boston Police Captain’s ISIS Inspired Son Arrested as Part of Counter Terrorism Sweep

The son of a Boston Police captain was arrested on gun charges on July 4 by the FBI as part of a counter-terrorism sweep over the holiday weekend.

Alexander Ciccolo, 23, of Adams, was arrested after allegedly buying four guns off of an undercover FBI informant according to a report by ABC. Ciccolo’s arrest was part of a broader FBI effort that resulted in 12 people with alleged ties to ISIS being rounded up around the July 4 holiday.

Possible bomb making materials were reportedly found in his apartment along with what was described as “attack planning papers” and “jihad” paperwork.

According to an FBI affidavit Ciccolo was planning on attacking a college campus with a pressure cooker bomb similar to the one used in the Boston Marathon bombing and several guns. Ciccolo allegedly planned to broadcast some elements of his attack, like executions, live over the internet. His focus areas were what security experts often describe as soft targets: cafeterias and dorms. It’s unclear exactly where or when the attacks were to occur.

Boston Police Captain Robert Ciccolo is his estranged father and, according to the FBI, reported his son to authorities over a year ago as behavior continued to change. Ciccolo’s parents are divorced. The FBI agents reported that he was using the name “Abu Ali al-Amriki” and told people he was a recent convert to Islam.

Ciccolo was arraigned last Monday on gun charges but is scheduled to appear in a Springfield court on Tuesday for another hearing.