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>> THAT SUSPECT IS IN FEDERAL CUSTODY, AND -- ACCUSED OF SCOUTING POTENTIAL TERROR TARGETS. POLICE SAY ALEXEI SAAB OF MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY WAS SCOUTING OUT LOCATIONS IN BOSTON, NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON AND SENDING BACK INFORMATION TO THE ISLAMIST MILITANT GROUP HEZBOLLAH. HE CAME TO THE U.S. LEGALLY IN 2000 AND BECAME A NATURALIZED CITIZEN IN 2008. HE IS ACCUSED OF COUNTING STRUCTURAL WEAKNESSES. TAKING THESE PICTURES AND SENDING THEM TO THE TERROR GROUP. THERE ARE DOZENS OF LANDMARKS IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON DC, INCLUDING FENWAY PARK THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE BRIEFED ABOUT HIS ACTIVITIES. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THEY PREVENTED ANY POTENTIAL TERROR PLOT. AND THAT THERE WERE NO CREDIBLE THREATS AT THE TIME THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE FBI IS ALSO SAYING THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY C

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A terror suspect facing federal charges that he supported Hezbollah, an Islamic militant group, is accused of scouting several Boston landmarks for the organization. Alexei Saab, 42, of Morristown, New Jersey, was also known as Ali Hassan Saab, Alex Saab, or Rachid, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. He faces nine counts, including providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization and citizenship application fraud."As a member of the Hezbollah component that coordinates external terrorist attack planning, Alexei Saab allegedly used his training to scout possible targets throughout the U.S," said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman.According to prosecutors, Saab joined Hezbollah in 1996 and originally worked for the organization in Lebanon. In 1999, Saab underwent firearms training and in 2000 he moved to the Islamic Jihad Organization, which prosecutors described as the arm of Hezbollah which is responsible for "planning and coordination of intelligence, counterintelligence, and terrorist activities."Saab entered the United States using a Lebanese passport in 2000 and applied for citizenship in 2005. Prosecutors said that on his application he falsely claimed that he had never been affiliated with a terrorist organization.He became a naturalized citizen in 2008. "Saab admitted that he took photographs in Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., among other cities, that were of interest to Hezbollah," prosecutors wrote in a complaint. "More specifically, Saab recalled taking photographs of buildings and locations in Boston including, but not limited to, Quincy Market and the Prudential Center."Additionally, the complaint includes a photo of Fenway Park from one of Saab's devices. In the federal complaint, prosecutors allege that "Saab focused on structural weaknesses of the locations he surveilled to determine how a future attack could cause the most destruction.""According to the allegations, while living in the United States, Saab served as an operative of Hezbollah and conducted surveillance of possible target locations in order to help the foreign terrorist organization prepare for potential future attacks against the United States," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. Boston police said they were briefed by the FBI about this case. "The Boston Police Department has been working closely with our law enforcement partners at the FBI to ensure the continued safety of the residents of the City of Boston," police spokesman John Boyle said. "Along with the FBI, the BPD wants to reiterate that there were no active or credible threats at the time the photos were taken and we are currently not aware of any active or credible threats at this time."Massachusetts State Police said they are also in communication with the FBI and Boston police. Officials added that there is no "current or specific" threat targeting the state. Prosecutors said Saab also conducted operations for Hezbollah abroad, including attempting to murder a man he suspected to be an Israeli Spy and gathering intelligence in Istanbul, Turkey.