MINNEAPOLIS, MN— An American citizen, Harafa Hussein Abdi, 41, of Minneapolis, MN was captured by authorities overseas and transported back to the United States Thursday according to the Department of Justice. He will stand trial for "providing and conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and receiving and conspiring to receive military-type training from ISIS."
A press release from the Department of Justice revealed Friday that Abdi left the United States and traveled to Somalia on a "hijra," a term used by radical Islamist jihadists when they travel to join ISIS, as noted by Gateway Pundit.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York explained that not only did Abdi train to fight for ISIS, he also trained others and vowed to attack New York City on the organization's behalf.
"As alleged, Harafa Hussein Abdi, a citizen of this country, traveled from Minnesota to join a group of ISIS fighters in Somalia," Williams said. "While training with ISIS fighters in Somalia, Abdi allegedly carried an AK-47, threatened to attack civilians in New York City, and encouraged others to carry out such attacks. Our law enforcement partners have relentlessly pursued this investigation to ensure the disruption of Abdi’s alleged plans to wage terror on our shores and bring Abdi to an American court to face justice.
"No matter how long it takes, this office is steadfast in its commitment to investigate, disrupt and prosecute terrorist threats against Americans.”
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said in the release, "As stated in the complaint, Mr. Abdi left his country to join ISIS, trained as a fighter and actively aided the group’s propaganda efforts to spread its vile ideology. There is no higher priority for the National Security Division than to protect Americans from terrorist organizations and we will work tirelessly to find and hold accountable those who would join these groups to do our people harm wherever they may be.”
According to reporting from NBC News, the legal complaint against Abdi included his words from a 2017 audio clip in which he reportedly integrated a threat against New York into a rap song with tracks of gunfire and explosions in the background. “We going to carry on jihad," the song said, "fly through America on our way to shoot New York up. They trying to shut this thing. We ain’t going. We going to come blow New York up.”
Specifically, Abdi threatened, “Hollow tips put a hole in your Catholic vest, and chop his head off let it rest on his Catholic chest.”
In social media posts from his time at the ISIS training camp, Abdi photographed himself in ISIS garb armed with an AK-47. In a propaganda video for the terrorist group, he said, “We thank almighty God for making us His soldiers and chose us to be among the Khilafa troops,” and “So do not stay behind, brother, and get on this caravan…. Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith fight in the cause of Evil.”
According to the DOJ, Abdi is facing up to fifty years in prison if his charges of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to receive military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization and receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization earn him the maximum consecutive sentences.
He is set to be prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Nicholas S. Bradley for the Southern District of New York with the assistance of Trial Attorney Kevin Nunnally of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
A press release from the Department of Justice revealed Friday that Abdi left the United States and traveled to Somalia on a "hijra," a term used by radical Islamist jihadists when they travel to join ISIS, as noted by Gateway Pundit.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York explained that not only did Abdi train to fight for ISIS, he also trained others and vowed to attack New York City on the organization's behalf.
"As alleged, Harafa Hussein Abdi, a citizen of this country, traveled from Minnesota to join a group of ISIS fighters in Somalia," Williams said. "While training with ISIS fighters in Somalia, Abdi allegedly carried an AK-47, threatened to attack civilians in New York City, and encouraged others to carry out such attacks. Our law enforcement partners have relentlessly pursued this investigation to ensure the disruption of Abdi’s alleged plans to wage terror on our shores and bring Abdi to an American court to face justice.
"No matter how long it takes, this office is steadfast in its commitment to investigate, disrupt and prosecute terrorist threats against Americans.”
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said in the release, "As stated in the complaint, Mr. Abdi left his country to join ISIS, trained as a fighter and actively aided the group’s propaganda efforts to spread its vile ideology. There is no higher priority for the National Security Division than to protect Americans from terrorist organizations and we will work tirelessly to find and hold accountable those who would join these groups to do our people harm wherever they may be.”
According to reporting from NBC News, the legal complaint against Abdi included his words from a 2017 audio clip in which he reportedly integrated a threat against New York into a rap song with tracks of gunfire and explosions in the background. “We going to carry on jihad," the song said, "fly through America on our way to shoot New York up. They trying to shut this thing. We ain’t going. We going to come blow New York up.”
Specifically, Abdi threatened, “Hollow tips put a hole in your Catholic vest, and chop his head off let it rest on his Catholic chest.”
In social media posts from his time at the ISIS training camp, Abdi photographed himself in ISIS garb armed with an AK-47. In a propaganda video for the terrorist group, he said, “We thank almighty God for making us His soldiers and chose us to be among the Khilafa troops,” and “So do not stay behind, brother, and get on this caravan…. Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith fight in the cause of Evil.”
According to the DOJ, Abdi is facing up to fifty years in prison if his charges of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to receive military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization and receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization earn him the maximum consecutive sentences.
He is set to be prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Nicholas S. Bradley for the Southern District of New York with the assistance of Trial Attorney Kevin Nunnally of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2024-02-22T10:27-0500 | Comment by: Karen
Probably an acquaintance of Ilhan Omar.
2024-02-25T18:43-0500 | Comment by: Russ
I live in Minnesotastan. It is a failed state. The murder of in utero babies is openly practiced and widely celebrated. Also, black-on-white violence is everywhere -- and constantly downplayed or ignored completely. Three examples, in three years: In 2017, black murderer Vern Jason Mouelle slit the throat of pregnant white woman Senicha Marie Lessman and her in utero child (local news only). In 2018, black murderer Jonna Armartey killed white couple Roger and Diane Peterson because they "freaked him out" (you will -- not -- find this story unless you search "Eagan van attack" or search the exact name of the killer or both victims). In 2019, black attempted-murderer Emmanuel Aradna tried to kill 5-year-old white child Landen Hoffman by throwing the child over a balcony at the Mall of America (almost only local news; race -- never -- mentioned).