COLUMBUS (US), Apr 17: A Somalia-born man living in the US traveled to Syria and trained alongside terrorists, then returned with plans to attack a military base or a prison, according to a federal indictment has announced.
Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, a US citizen originally from Somalia, wanted to “kill three or four American soldiers execution style,” according to the indictment. Attacking the prison was part of a backup plan if that didn’t work, the charges said yesterday.
The indictment also says Mohamud’s brother, Abdifatah Aden, fought with Jabhat al-Nusrah, a State Department-designated terrorist group, until he was killed in battle in Syria in June 2014.
Mohamud, 23, was charged with supporting terrorism, supporting the same terrorist group and lying to an FBI agent by saying he was in Istanbul when authorities say he was in Syria. He also is charged with making a false statement involving international terrorism.
The government charged Mohamud under the laws most commonly used since the September 11 attacks to prosecute terror suspects. He faces up to 38 years in prison if convicted.
Mohamud was arrested in Columbus in February on state terrorism and money laundering counts. Thursday’s charges were expected, and Mohamud will plead not guilty at a Friday arraignment, said his attorney, Sam Shamansky. He said it was too early to talk about the specific charges.
Mohamud became a US citizen in February 2014, according to the government.
The government didn’t say how it learned of the plot, but the indictment mentions two “unnamed” associates of Mohamud in the US to whom he gave information about his activities, including a video of Mohamud carrying an AK-47.
One of them said he believed Mohamud was trying to recruit him to participate in the plot, according to the indictment. The government also said Mohamud made terrorism-related Facebook posts in 2013.
US Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, said the charges highlight the threat posed by Americans joining extremists overseas then returning home.
Events leading to Mohamud’s arrest began around September 2013 when he communicated online with his brother over plans to also travel to Syria to fight, the indictment said. They later talked about ways Mohamud could support him financially, according to the government.
Mohamud told his brother of his desire to “join you in the high ranks as a Mujahid,” or violent jihadist, according to the indictment. (AGENCIES)
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