Nebraska witness and experts react to alleged terrorist plot arrest

Witnesses and experts are reacting to several federal arrests in a plotted attack on the UFC White House event, after the alleged “ringleader” was arrested in Omaha.Jessica Brandt, a resident of Western, said she witnessed the FBI raid and was shocked by the scale of the operation. Late Sunday night, she said, at least 10 black unmarked vehicles, several Saline County Sheriff’s Office cruisers, made their way to an abandoned church in Western.”We never think that something that big would happen here,” Brandt said. READ MORE: Court documents detail Omaha man’s suspected involvement, targets of planned attack at White House UFC showAt the time, Brandt said no one in town had any idea why the officers were there collecting evidence. Then, on Tuesday, the FBI announced the arrests of five suspects in a thwarted terrorist attack, including Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, who was arrested in Omaha.”I didn’t realize that this gentleman bought this in 2023. I don’t know who he is. Most of us here in Western, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the guy,” she said. The Saline County Assessor’s Office confirmed that Abraham H. Alvarez bought the property last year. According to the Department of Justice, Alvarez intended to use the church as a “safe zone” for his plans. “How did somebody find this tiny little town to make it a safe haven for something so terrible?” Brandt said. ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: Photos show FBI investigating abandoned church in Nebraska tied to alleged White House UFC attack plotCounterterrorism experts say social media played a key role in the alleged plot. Gina Ligon, director of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE) in Omaha, explained how online platforms can foster domestic terrorism. “This is domestic terrorism today. This is what it looks like in Nebraska and across the country,” Ligon said. Federal prosecutors allege Alvarez, using the username “Shephard,” connected with other plotters exclusively online. “You really get into an echo chamber, and you start talking with people who gradually escalate, some really dark thoughts and dark ways to be able to tie your grievances to some grander cause,” Ligon said. The Department of Justice documents stated that Alvarez planned, organized, and directed the attack. He faces multiple federal charges.”I’ll be very interested to see his background. Was that expertise his or something that he found online through artificial intelligence? Was he the person he’s purported to be online? He does seem to be the epicenter right now, which is really disconcerting for Nebraskans to know that was happening right here,” Ligon said. Brandt said the raid and its implications have shaken her community.”I was surprised that the severity of what this could have done to our country and what it could have done to our community,” she said. MORE COVERAGE: Omaha resident arrested as FBI disrupts ‘planned attacks’ targeting White House UFC showAlvarez is scheduled to appear in federal court in Lincoln next week.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |