HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama college student held on a terror-related charge had bomb-making materials and planned to plant explosives in a public building, prosecutors said Thursday.
Madison County authorities opposing a defense request for bail revealed some new details in court documents about the arrest of Aziz Sayyed, 22, and subsequent statements he allegedly made to investigators.
Police acting on a tip stopped Sayyed on June 15 while he was driving in Huntsville, where he lives and attends college. He’s been jailed since then on a second-degree charge of soliciting or providing help for terrorism.
A defense attorney wants a judge to set bond so he can be released pending his prosecution. But prosecutors argued that he’s too dangerous.
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“The defendant has admitted in an interview with investigators the elements of his charge, to include planning and discussions regarding planting explosives in public building(s),” prosecutor Tim Gann wrote, asking a judge to deny Sayyed’s request for bail.
Defense lawyer Bruce Gardner denied that Sayyed is a threat to the community or a flight risk. “He has substantial family ties to the community,” Gardner wrote.
Sayyed, who was born in North Carolina, has a preliminary hearing set for Aug. 2. Prosecutors asked for a minimum bond of $250,000 should a judge decide to grant bail.