New Mexico Compound Suspects Planned to Attack Atlanta Hospital: Prosecutors

Two people who lived at a New Mexico compound where 11 starving children were found in early August allegedly planned to carry out a terrorist attack at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Jany Leveille and partner Siraj Ibn Wahhaj wanted to confront and attack “corrupt” institutions, including the Atlanta hospital, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “A specific ‘corrupt’ institution named by one of the children was Grady Hospital,” according to a court document.

Meanwhile, the children on the compound told police that Leveille “intended to confront ‘corrupt’ institutions or individuals, such as the military, big businesses, CIA, teachers/schools, and reveal the ’truth' to these corrupt institutions or individuals,” the document said, CNN reported.

The couple planned to “shoot or otherwise attack” individuals they failed to persuade with their “message,” the court documents said, the paper reported.

Wahhaj is the father of Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, whose remains were found on the compound Aug. 6. The child, from Georgia, had gone missing last year.

Both Leveille and Wahhaj were charged with child abuse resulting in death and conspiracy to commit child abuse, according to the Journal-Constitution.

Prosecutors in New Mexico are now seeking to have them and three other suspects in the case be held without bond. Although Leveille and Wahhaj, as well as three other adults, are still in custody, a judge granted the suspects a $20,000 signature bond.

Wahhaj’s sisters, Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhannah Wahhaj, as well as Lucas Morten were charged with 11 felony counts of child abuse.

CNN reported that a document found on the property was titled, “Phases of a Terrorist Attack,” which had instructions for ‘The one-time terrorist,’ instructions on the use of a ‘choke point,’ a location ‘called the ideal attack site,’ the ‘ability to defend the safe haven,’ the ‘ability to escape-perimeter rings,’ and ’sniper position detection procedure,'” according to the court filing.

Several children who lived at the compound told police that Morten allegedly “stated he wished to die in Jihad, as a martyr,” prosecutors said. “At times, Jany Leveille would laugh and joke about dying in Jihad as would Subhanna Wahhaj,” said the court document.

Morten also allegedly wrote a letter that encouraged the brother of Siraj Wahhaj to follow Islam and Allah “until he makes you die a martyr as you wanted and the only way is by joining the righteous.”

That relative was also told to “take all your money out of the bank and bring your guns,” the document said.

Meanwhile, the court document said that Wahhaj stashed weapons at the “exit of the tunnel” on the compound. Police said they found an AR-15 rifle, 30-round magazines, four pistols, and other rounds of ammunition, CNN reported.

Siraj Wahhaj (L) and Lucas Morten. Taos County Sheriff's Office

Charges in Boy’s Death

Wahhaj and Leveille are accused of failing to provide medication to a son of Wahhaj’s who had a severe medical condition that was well known to the family, according to charges of child abuse resulting in death and conspiracy to commit child abuse filed by the district attorney’s office in Taos, according to The Associated Press. Prosecutors charged both on Aug. 24.

In an affidavit accompanying the new charges, prosecutors outlined allegations that Wahhaj and his son left Georgia without taking medications the boy needed to treat severe health problems, including seizures that stemmed from a lack of oxygen and blood flow at birth.

The affidavit alleges that Leveille and Wahhaj witnessed the boy’s seizures and knew he had a diagnosed seizure disorder but apparently provided no medication and took no action to seek proper medical care.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.