A New Jersey teen plotted to kill Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to Philadelphia — attempting to ꦰhire a sniper to shoot him during his Papal mass, federal prosecutors say.
Santos Colon, 17, pleaded guilty Monday to🅰 attempting to provide material support to terrorists, according to court documents.
Theꦅ Lindenwold resident now faces up to 15 years behind bars after being charged as an adult in Camden federal court.
Prosecutors say he admitted to hatching the ISIS-inspired terror plot — wh⛎ich included setting off bombs across the 🌃City of Brotherly Love — between June 30, 2015 to Aug. 14, 2015.
The attack was supposed to take place during Pope Francis’ visit to Philly that September.
Colon had tried hiring a “sniper” to kill the Holy Father during his Papal mass, but the supposed hit-man turned out to be an undercover agent for the FBI.
In addition to taking out the pope, the teen also asked the operative to buy some explosi𝔉ve materials for him and even scoped out some of the proposed terror targets, prosecutors say.
Colon was reportedly inspired by the Islamic State — and had obtained instru✅ctions on how to make bombs from the internet before his arrest in 2015.
“The minor was inspired by [ISIS] and soug🍸ht to conduct a detailed homeland attack which included multiple attackers, firearms, and multiple explosives, targeting a foreign dignitary at a high-profile event,” a joint intelligence bulletin by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security read at the time,ಞ .
“The minor obtained explosives instructions and further disseminated these instructions through social media.”
Colon, who is a US citizen, will not face further charges for attemptinౠg to provide support to ISIS or attempting to obtain a weapon of mass destruction — as part of is plea deal,
A date has not yet been set for his sentencing.