New Details about Taheri-azar's Plans

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Eyewitness News

(03/07/06 - CHAPEL HILL) (WTVD) -- Investigators believe Mohammed Taheri-azar had been planning an attack for years, Eyewitness News has learned.

Taheri-azar, 22, is charged with driving a rented Jeep Cherokee on Friday through The Pit, the popular outdoor gathering spot on the campus in Chapel Hill. He says he did it to avenge the treatment of Muslims, and he didn't deny driving through the campus.

Search warrants obtained by Eyewitness News shows that investigators believe Taheri-azar had been planning an attack of some kind for two years. He had been planning the specific attack for about two months, the warrants said.

Authorities say Taheri-azar rented a four-wheel-drive SUV so that he could run over people and keep going. The warrants said Taheri-azar was disappointed that more people were not in the Pit when he carried out the attack. He was carrying two cans of pepper spray and a knife during the attack, the warrants said.

Authorities say they found a letter in Taheri-azar's apartment, two Navy SEAL videotapes and an application for a gun permit in Orange County.

Federal officials are contemplating terrorism charges in the case. Former roommate speaks with Eyewitness News Jason Strange, one of Taheri-azar's former roommates, says the suspect was quiet at home.

"He was very quiet," Strange said. "Into cars, kind of stayed to himself. He didn't really socialize with us too much."

Taheri-azar seemed to smirk as he made his first court appearance Monday.

"That's just his everyday look," Strange said. "Just kind of smiling and going with whatever is coming to him."

Taheri-azar remains behind bars at Central Prison under a $5.5 million bond.

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