Son of Boston police captain charged in terror plot to use pressure-cooker bombs at university

BOSTON – Prosecutors have arrested the son of a Boston police captain in a plot to commit terrorist acts on behalf of the Islamic State group.

Alexander Ciccolo is accused in a criminal complaint unsealed Monday of receiving four guns July 4 from a person co-operating with the Western Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force.

An FBI affidavit says the 23-year-old Adams resident had talked with the co-operating witness in recorded conversations about his plans to commit acts inspired by the Islamic State group, including setting off pressure-cooker bombs at an unidentified university. According to the affidavit, he said the attack would include executions of students broadcast live online.

Before his arrest, agents had observed Ciccolo buying a pressure cooker similar to those used in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

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