Amine El Khalifi

Amine El Khalifi (; born c. 1983) is a Moroccan man who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for plotting to carry out a suicide bombing on the United States Capitol as part of what he intended to be a terrorist operation. He is believed to have no actual ties to al-Qaeda. All arms and support were provided by the FBI, and authorities say the operation never placed the public in danger.

On June 22, 2012, El Khalifi pleaded guilty in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia and was sentenced to 30 years in prison the following September. According to an acquaintance, El Khalifi regularly attended a mosque in Falls Church. At least one other man was living with El Khalifi at the time, and he claimed to be running a luggage business. He was arrested before he exited the parking building he had been dropped off in, as he walked alone toward the Capitol building. Some commentators were critical of the arrest, saying the sting operation was a form of entrapment.

Court case El Khalifi appeared in court the afternoon of his arrest and was charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction against U.S. property. He was represented by a federal public defender during the hearing. He is currently at FMC Butner with BOP #79748-083.