(GA. NEWS NETWORK)
*A man from Kenya was sentenced to life in prison for plotting a “9/11-style terrorist attack” on Atlanta’s tallest building in 2019. Court records show Cholo Abdi Abdullah, who was associated with the terrorist organization al-Shabaab, planned to hijack a commercial airliner and crash it into the Bank of America Plaza building. Prosecutors say he received military-style training and became a student at a flight school in the Philippines to become a commercial pilot for the attack. Fox5 Atlanta reports Abdullah was found guilty on multiple counts and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison, along with a lifetime of supervised release.
*A website used to steal and manage bank login credentials has been seized as part of a nationwide fraud investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta. The Justice Department says the scheme relied on fake online ads that redirected victims to fraudulent bank websites, resulting in roughly 14-point-six-million dollars in actual losses, including cases involving North Georgia. Investigators say the seized domain remained active until last month as the investigation continues.
*Swastikas were found spray-painted along the Vickery Creek Trail at Old Mill Park in Roswell. A hiker reported seeing multiple hate symbols Monday while on the trail, prompting concern and calls for the graffiti to be addressed. Under Georgia law, defacing property in a public park is illegal, and Roswell police and county parks officials have been contacted about the incident.
*A teenager is dead after authorities said he fatally shot himself during an attempted robbery. Griffin police said 18-year-old Jesse White was pulling a gun out to rob an alleged drug dealer with three other teens Saturday night when it discharged and struck him. White was taken to the hospital where he later died. The other teens were arrested and face multiple charges.