The FBI arrested 18-year-old Akram Musleh this week for allegedly providing material support to ISIS and for planning to travel to join the terror army overseas.
According to a press release, Musleh purchased a bus ticket from Indiana to New York, where he planned to hop a plane to Morocco. From there, he would join ISIS in Libya or further east in Iraq or Syria. He was arrested while boarding the bus.
“The radicalization of American citizens by terrorist organizations like ISIL is a threat to our safety here and abroad,” U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said about the case. “I am committed to using the full authority of the United States Attorney’s Office to identify, investigate and prosecute those that materially support terrorism. I would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Brownsburg Police Department and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for working with us during this investigation. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners but as in this case, we rely heavily on the public’s assistance to help make our community safe.”
Over the past three years, the FBI has arrested dozens of Americans attempting to join ISIS overseas. The FBI currently has 1000 open cases on ISIS leads throughout the country and the intelligence community has warned of ISIS attacks inside the U.S.
“Terrorism is the FBI’s number one priority and we work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our community,” Indiana FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Jay Abbott said.
Orlando terrorist and "soldier of the caliphate" Omar Mateen, also an American citizen, pledged his allegiance to ISIS after killing 49 people at Pulse Nightclub nearly two weeks ago. During his rampage Mateen called 911, praised ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and asked for Allah to watch over him.
ISIS leaders have encouraged those who cannot travel to Iraq or Syria to carry out attacks at home.