Farhan Sheikh, 19, allegedly posted the threat this month on iFunny, a social media platform where users can post internet memes, according to a criminal complaint.
He was arrested Friday and charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, federal prosecutors said.
Sheikh's public defender declined to comment Monday.
Sheikh made his first court appearance on Monday before US Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox. Cox ordered Sheikh to remain in custody pending a detention hearing on Tuesday, federal prosecutors in Illinois said. He faces up to five years if convicted.
Around August 13, the FBI learned that a user on iFunny had posted a threat, according to court papers. In the post, Sheikh allegedly wrote: "I am done with my state and thier (sic) bullsh*t abortion laws and allowing innocrnt (sic) kids to be slaughtered for the so called 'womans (sic) right,'" according to an FBI affidavit.
Sheikh wrote that he planned to go to the clinic, which was about 4 miles from his home, on August 23 and "proceed to slaughter and murder any doctor, patient or visitor," an affidavit said. He also posted that his account was "NOT a satirical account. I post what I mean, and i WILL carry out what I post," court papers said.
On August 13th, FBI agents searched his home. Sheikh told FBI agents he thought they had come because of a "joke" he posted on iFunny, court papers said.
Sheikh referenced the arrest of Justin Olsen, an 18-year-old Ohio man who was charged this month with threatening to assault a federal law enforcement officer, a criminal complaint said.
Olsen posted a threat to assault federal law enforcement investigators and discussed the 1993 Waco siege on iFunny in June, an affidavit said. Olsen also blamed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the deaths of scores of people living at the Branch Davidian complex, court papers said.
Olsen was ordered held after a court appearance last week. His lawyer could not be reached Monday evening.
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