Hamed M. Alsaidi charged after police find Molotov cocktails, map of alleged Illinois targets
MOKENA, Ill. — Hamed Mohamed Hamed Alsaidi, 31, has been charged after police allegedly found eight Molotov cocktails and a hand-drawn map of purported targets following his arrest in Mokena, Illinois.
According to authorities, Alsaidi was arrested around 2:52 a.m. on August 1 near 191st Street and La Grange Road after officers encountered him walking in the roadway. Police said he initially provided a false name before officers searched his backpack and allegedly discovered eight improvised incendiary devices made from gasoline-filled bottles with cloth wicks.
Investigators also recovered a hand-drawn map that allegedly referenced a Metra train station and included the phrase “You see the mosque,” which authorities linked to the Orland Park Prayer Center. Law enforcement subsequently alerted area mosques as a precaution.
Alsaidi was charged with felony unlawful possession/use of a weapon and misdemeanor obstructing identification of a peace officer. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is leading the federal investigation, with assistance from the FBI and the Illinois State Fire Marshal.
Court records indicate a judge granted Alsaidi pretrial release under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, ordering him to remain on GPS electronic monitoring at a residence in Oak Forest while the case proceeds.
Federal immigration records cited by prosecutors reportedly state that Alsaidi was twice determined to be inadmissible to the United States after allegedly entering the country illegally in 2024. The investigation remains ongoing.
