Arizona man guilty of helping stage attack on ‘Draw Mohammed’ cartoon contest

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In this May 4, 2015 file photo, FBI crime scene investigators document the area around two deceased gunmen and their vehicle outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas, which was hosting a “Draw Mohammed” cartoon contest. Photo: AP

Published: 2:36pm, 18 Mar 2016Updated: 2:36pm, 18 Mar 2016

An Arizona man has been found guilty of plotting with others to attack a “Draw Mohammed” cartoon contest in Texas last year and providing material support to the Islamic State group, prosecutors said.

Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, 44, was convicted on Thursday on all five charges against him by a federal jury in US District Court in Phoenix stemming from the May 3 attack in the Dallas suburb of Garland that left his two alleged associates dead in a shoot-out with police.

The case against Kareem, also known as Decarus Thomas, was the first Islamic State-related prosecution to reach trial of the dozens brought by the federal government across the nation. It is the second jury verdict in such a case, as US Air Force veteran Tairod Pugh was convicted earlier this month in New York.

Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, also known as Decarus Thomas, was convicted of helping two gunmen prepare for their attack on a “Draw Mohammed” cartoon contest in Texas last May. Photo: Reuters

“This verdict sends a strong message to those who support terrorists,” acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix division, Justin Tolomeo, said in a statement.

Kareem’s attorney could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday, but Kareem maintained his innocence and denied involvement in the attacks when he took the stand for two days in the federal trial.

Kareem’s roommates, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, of Phoenix were killed by Garland police after they opened fire with assault rifles outside the May 3 cartoon drawing event.