Man accused of attempted bombing in Wrigleyville pleads not-guilty
Sun-Times Staff Report
Sami Samir Hassoun pleaded not guilty to charges that he planted what he thought was a bomb outside of Wrigley Field last month.
A North Side man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he put a backpack containing what he thought was a bomb in a trash can outside Wrigley Field last month.
Sami Samir Hassoun appeared at arraignment hearing federal court Wednesday, accused of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and of an explosive device.
He allegedly put the backpack in a trash can outside Slugger's, 3540 N. Clark, after the Dave Matthews concert at Wrigley Field in mid-September, but the bomb was a harmless fake provided to him by federal undercover agents.
During Wednesday's court hearing, Hassoun at one point turned to smile at family members sitting on courtroom benches. One relative crossed her palms over her heart, then blew Hassoun a kiss.
Defense attorney Myron Auerbach told Judge Susan Cox he needs time to review more than 100 hours of FBI surveillance video. Hassoun's next court date is Nov. 3.
After Wednesday's hearing, Auerbach told reporters Hassoun is "a big talker'' and "troubled'' but isn't a terrorist.
But federal authorities contend in documents filed in federal court that Hassoun brainstormed different methods of terrorizing Chicago over the summer, including unleashing a virus, poisoning Lake Michigan, bombing the Willis Tower or Daley Plaza, attacking police officers or assassinating the mayor.
Hassoun finally settled on exploding a bomb in Wrigleyville, where he said "all the young people, the hippest people'' congregate, the documents alleged.
Hassoun was arrested immediately after he placed the phony device in the garbage can, officials said. He had been told the bomb would destroy half a city block.
The undercover agents who gave Hassoun the bomb had been brought in by an informant to whom Hassoun had allegedly confided his violent plans.
Hassoun, a Lebanese citizen and legal permanent resident, told the undercover agents his motive was not religious ideology, but that he wanted to terrorize Chicago to create chaos, force Mayor Daley out of office and gain political control of the city, the FBI said.
Hassoun also said he wanted money, the court papers say. The agents, posing as people who wanted to fund terrorism, paid him $2,700 and offered to arrange a hideout in California after the bombing.
Contributing: Associated Press










Comments