New Jersey teen admits role in plot against Pope, feds say
Source: CNN
(CNN)A 17-year-old pleaded guilty Monday to one charge of attempting to provide support and resources to terrorists in a plot against the Pope, according to court documents.
Santos Colon Jr. of Lindenwold, New Jersey, allegedly attempted to plan an attack against Pope Francis during his visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in September 2015. He pleaded guilty as an adult in New Jersey district court and could face up to 15 years in prison, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
From June to August 2015, Colon tried to plan an attack for the Pope's upcoming visit, court documents state. Colon's plot required hiring a sniper to shoot the Pope during the Papal mass and planned to set off explosives around the event, according to the press release.
In order to complete this mission, he connected with someone he believed would be the sniper, but later discovered was an undercover FBI employee. He instructed this supposed sniper to purchase materials that would make explosive devices, according to the press release.
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Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/04/us/santos-colon-pope/