News
News

Report: Oprah, Sears Tower targeted in terror plot

Oprah Winfrey talks to her audience before introducing Pastor Rob Bell, one of Time's most influential people in the world in 2011. (Akili-Casundria Ramsess/Special to the AJC)

Credit: Akili-Casundria Ramsess

Credit: Akili-Casundria Ramsess

Oprah Winfrey talks to her audience before introducing Pastor Rob Bell, one of Time's most influential people in the world in 2011. (Akili-Casundria Ramsess/Special to the AJC)
Dec 1, 2014

Oprah Winfrey, her Chicago-based Harpo Studios and the Willis Tower ("Sears Tower") were the targets of a failed terrorist plot in 2009, according to a new Judicial Watch report.

The alleged plot was the work of a "narco-terror ring" based in El Paso, Texas, according to JW, which describes itself as a "a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation."

JW, drawing from anonymous sources, reports: "The alleged bombers targeted Ms. Winfrey’s Harpo Studios because they resented her popularity and power, while the tower was selected because of its obvious landmark status. The bomb plot itself, planned in 2009, was inspired by militant Islamist hatred of American military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to law enforcement and other sources interviewed by Judicial Watch."

JW reports that the plot, which allegedly involved a "U-Haul-style trailer, as well as a delivery-style 'step van'" and C-4 explosives, was foiled by federal authorities but has never been subsequently publicized.

The Department of Justice and the FBI did not return their requests for comment.

More Stories

Keep Reading

Darius Robinson was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Courtesy of Greene County Schools)

Credit: Greene County schools

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

The Greene County High coach was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery, according to investigators.

Georgia Power, PSC staff strike deal for $16B expansion to power data centers

Georgia Power and the Public Service Commission’s staff unveiled a deal that would allow the utility to build huge amounts of new power plants, mostly to serve data centers.

Warnock renews push for enhanced job training with bipartisan bill

Employers that come to Georgia “are having a hard time finding workers with the education they need,” U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said in a written statement.

The Latest

Darius Robinson was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Courtesy of Greene County Schools)

Credit: Greene County schools

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

Sweet Tea: Use your time wisely

A.M. ATL: It’s actually happening

Featured

Waymo autonomous vehicles operate across 65 square miles inside I-285 and have been involved in six incidents with Atlanta Public School buses since May. Waymo issued a recall because of their cars briefly stopping or slowing down before continuing forward while a bus was stopped and flashing its lights. (Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools)

Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Public Schools

Waymo cars ignored stopped school buses in Atlanta. What happens now?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation. The autonomous vehicle company has issued a software recall.

Search for new MARTA chief hits snag

The search for a new leader for the regional transit authority is widely seen as one of the most important duties facing the Marta Board

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

The Greene County High coach was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery, according to investigators.