Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud’s mugshot (Handout)
An ISIS supporter from Columbus, Ohio, is accused of plotting an attack in the U.S. He had just returned from training in Syria. That man has been named as 23-year-old Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He Was First Accused of Giving a Computer Tablet to ISIS
(Getty)
According to the indictment against Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, he left for training in Syria in April 2014. A cleric there, instructed him to return to the U.S. to carry out an attack. The documents say that Mohamud is facing charges of providing material supporter to a designated foreign terrorist organization, one count of attempting to provide support and one count of making false statements to the FBI. He was first arrested back in February 2015 on charges of providing a computer tablet to members of ISIS, reported ABC Cleveland. He was held on a bond of $1 million for those charges with his lawyer, Sam Shamnsky, arguing that Mohamud was not a flight risk and he needed to be at home to take care of his sick mother.
2. The Feds Say ISIS Trained Mohamud to Break Into Homes
(Facebook)
Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud is a U.S. citizen who traveled to Syria via Turkey, something he documented on his Facebook page. He had been booked to travel to Greece but he never made it to his connecting flight in Turkey, having instead met up with terrorism contacts who arranged his travel to Syria, according to his indictment. While in Syria, the documents state, he was trained in shooting, explosives, breaking-and-entering, and hand-to-hand combat.
3. He Faces Nearly 40 Years in Prison
Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin said about the arrest “According to the charges in the indictment, Mohamud allegedly traveled to Syria to train with and fight alongside terrorists. Identifying and neutralizing the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters who return to the United States is one of the National Security Division’s highest priorities. I want to thank the many agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this ongoing investigation and today’s charges.” He’s facing 15 years in prison for his charges of providing support as well as eight years for making false statements, according to the Justice Department.
You can read the full charges against Mohamud above.
4. He Got Married While He Was in Syria, According to His Facebook
(Facebook)
According to his Facebook page, Mohamud married a woman named Zamzam Hashi in December 2013. On her Facebook, she writes that she’s a native of Istanbul, Turkey. Cleveland.com reported back in February that Mohamud was born in Somalia and came to the U.S. when he was toddler. A Somali community leader Hassan Omar said about Mohamud “It’s heartbreaking, not expecting someone like that to be accused of a crime like this.”
5. So Far in April, 4 U.S. Citizens Have Been Charged With Supporting ISIS
Joshua Ray Van Haften’S mugshot. (Handout)
He’s the fourth American in less than a month who has been charged with joining or carrying out an attack in the name of ISIS. Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud joins Joshua Ray Van Haften, Noelle Velentzas and Asia Siddiqui, as well as John T. Booker. Velentzas, Siddiqui and Booker were all planning to carry out attacks, according to the Feds, but were in reality in the middle of sting operations. Van Haften, a convicted sex offender, was arrested after returning from Turkey, having failed to join ISIS.