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Arizona Man Accused In Attack On Prophet Muhammed Cartoon Contest Re-Indicted

Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem
(Photo courtesy of Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)
Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem

An Arizona man accused of helping plan an attack at a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas has been re-indicted in the case.

The charges now include conspiracy to support terrorism, both domestic and international. Already charged with helping conspire an attack on a satirical Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas in May, Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem is now accused of planning to fight with the Islamic State group and inquiring about explosives to attack the Super Bowl game in Glendale.

The indictment released Wednesday now charges Abdul Kareem with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors allege he researched traveling to the Middle East to fight alongside ISIS and inquired about the types of explosives that would be needed to blow up a Valley mall and University of Phoenix stadium earlier this year.

Authorities say Abdul Kareem, who is 44, provided the guns that Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi used in the Garland, Texas attack. All three men attended the same Phoenix mosque. Simpson and Soofi were killed by police after the shooting at the drawing contest, which was intended to satirize Islam's Prophet Mohammed, a blasphemous act to Muslims.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Phil Latzman is an award-winning digital journalist and broadcast professional with over 25 years of experience covering news and sports on a multitude of platforms.