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U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation


In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. 219 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604

 

 

August 7, 2002

Suspect Charged in Federal Building Disturbance

Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of LUKE A. JEMMOT, age 31, whose last known address was 5214 South Marshfield in Chicago. JEMMOT was arrested earlier today by FBI Special Agents after allegedly throwing a lighted backpack into the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Building, located at 219 South Dearborn Street in downtown Chicago.

JEMMOT will be charged in a criminal complaint filed later today in U.S. District Court in Chicago, with one count of attempting to destroy by fire a U.S. Government building, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, JEMMOT entered the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Building shortly before noon carrying a backpack that contained a American flag and several rolls of toilet tissue. JEMMOT is believe to have lighted the contents of the backpack with a lighter before entering the building. According to witnesses, JEMMOT tossed the flaming backpack into the center lobby area of the building and then began screaming and chanting in a foreign language.

JEMMOT was subdued by Court Security Officers on duty in the lobby of the building and FBI Special Agents, who were passing by. No injuries were reported during this incident and the backpack fire was extinguished by building personnel. A complete examination of the backpack and its contents is still being conducted. The Dirksen Federal Building is home to the Chicago FBI, U.S. Attorney and various Federal Courts, including U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

JEMMOT will have an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward Bobrick at 4:30 this afternoon. If convicted of the charges, JEMMOT faces a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years. At this time, it appears that JEMMOT acted alone and this incident was not terrorist related.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.




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