An Australian lawyer has been arrested in the US for allegedly making terroristic threats, including blowing up a house in Pennsylvania and killing children.
Ali Abbas, 32, was originally held on $US100 million bail in Northampton County Jail after US authorities thought he was on the FBI's terrorism watch list.
After Abbas spent a night in jail it was discovered through fingerprint and other checks he was not the person on the FBI list.
"For some reason, this guy's name is apparently similar to someone who is on various sorts of watch lists," Abbas' attorney, Philip Lauer, told the Morning Call newspaper.
"It turned up as: This person might be a terrorist."
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The $US100 million bail was dropped and Abbas was released on his own recognisance.
He still faces two counts of making terroristic threats and harassment after allegedly calling Easton, Pennsylvania, attorney Raymond Lahoud and threatening to "take (Lahoud's sister's) kids out" one by one and "blow her house up".
Lahoud also told police he felt threatened when Abbas arrived unannounced at his law office.
As part of his jail release, Abbas had to surrender his Australian passport and have no contact with the people he is accused of threatening.
When Abbas flew into the US earlier this month he was flagged at Los Angeles International Airport as a possible watch list subject, although it was quickly resolved, Lauer said.
