TUCSON — A closer look at the two men who were arrested at Tucson International Airport on Friday, reveals a disturbing picture of the ISIS recruits.
The two men, Abdi Yemani Hussein, age 20, and Ahmed Mahad Mohamed, age 21, were arrested by FBI agents after a months-long investigation.
The two Somali refugees were on their way to Egypt to join ISIS when they were arrested on July 26, 2019.
Mohamed told an undercover FBI agent that if he made it to Syria, he wanted to be the “beheading guy.” Mohamed also said his family would disapprove of his plans.
Criminal Complaint:
According to information provided by the Department of Homeland Security, Mohamed is a 21-year-old lawful permanent resident of the United States who currently resides in Tucson, Arizona, and originally entered the United States as a refugee from Somalia. Hussein is a 20-year-old refugee from Somalia who also currently resides in Tucson, Arizona. As set forth in greater detail below, Mohamed and Hussein are ISIS supporters who conspired to travel overseas to join the foreign terrorist organization.
Over the past several months, Mohamed and Hussein have repeatedly demonstrated their allegiance to and support for ISIS and have discussed their desire and plans for joining ISIS overseas, in the course of various electronic and audio recorded conversations with an undercover FBI Agent (UC). After obtaining the necessary documents to travel overseas, Mohamed and Hussein purchased airline tickets for a flight scheduled to depart on July 26, 2019, from Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, to Cairo Egypt, to join ISIS.
On July 26, 2019, Mohamed and Hussein traveled to Tucson International Airport, where they were arrested by the FBI after checking in for their flight and passing through airport security.
The FBI initiated an investigation involving Mohamed on or about August 2018, based on information which indicated Mohamed had a desire to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, that is, ISIS.
On or about August 13, 2018, Mohamed, using Social Media Platform #1 (SMP-1) 1 name “Abu Dujana,” initiated contact with an FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE). In the course of their conversations, the OCE told Mohamed she/he was located overseas. Mohamed self-identified as a Somali supporter of ISIS and stated he was currently located in the United States and had a desire to make “hijrah” to Syria or Iraq to join ISIS and achieve martyrdom. Furthermore, Mohamed stated “I love jihad so much wallahi (wallahi is the Arabic phrase for, I swear by Allah.) I give my life jihad; I only think about jihad everywhere I go but my father and mom they don’t like jihad if they knew I want to make hijrah they would spy me.”
Mohamed advised the OCE that if he made it to Syria, he wanted to be the “beheading guy.”
In early December 2018, Mohamed was introduced to an FBI Undercover Employee (UC). Mohamed reached out to the UC via Social Media Platform #2 (SMP- 2) 4, username Abudujanal9. Mohamed and the UC had a conversation where Mohamed indicated that he wanted to make hijrah and asked for help from the UC. Mohamed stated that he was “a lion by killing the kuffar and beheading.”
In addition, Mohamed told the UC, “if I go to Syria, I want to be the beheading person wallahi this kuffar (kuffar Arabic phrase for disbelievers) I want to kill them so many I am thirsty their blood.” Mohamed indicated he wanted to travel to Syria, Egypt and/or Iraq. Mohamed sent screenshots to the UC from a cellular telephone showing flight information and rates from the United States to Turkey and indicated that he had saved $2,000. Mohamed advised the UC that they had to be very smart and careful with their plan and that his family would contact law enforcement if they knew what he was thinking or planning.
From December 2018 to January 2019, using the SMP-2 application, Mohamed and the UC had several discussions which involved plans to travel to the Middle East and fight with ISIS.
Mohamed made the following statements:
“I want to be the new jihadi John akhi7 beheading the kuffar like animal”
“Akhi when I get my passport, I make hijrah or die or go in jail.”
“If this kuffar stop me I will make attack with truck or anywhere that can kill so many kuffar.”
“The best wake up call is Islamic State to get victory or another 911”
“Akhi (Akhi is Arabic for my brother) I want to travel but am waiting passport when I get passport, we will make hijrah quickly ”
In January 2019, Mohamed sent the UC screenshots of the ISIS magazine Rumiyah and stated that he reads the magazine every day. Mohamed also sent the UC screenshots of the ISIS magazine Dabiq and stated that he goes to “jihadology web al haya media center” and that he “keep[s] watching Islamic state video. ”
Rumiyah and Dabiq are publications available online that are commonly used to distribute pro-ISIS propaganda. These publications target English-speaking audiences and promote home-grown violent extremism.
On the evening of February 1, 2019, Mohamed used his SMP-2 account, bearing screen name “abu Mohamed” to propose an in-person meeting with the UC at Location 1 in Tucson, Arizona. Mohamed sent the UC a photograph of himself along with the address of Location 1 via SMP-2 screen name “abu Mohamed.” At approximately 8:15 p.m., Mohamed and the UC met at Location 1. In order to speak freely, Mohamed invited the UC into his vehicle.
In a recorded conversation, the UC and Mohamed discussed plans on how to make hijrah to the Middle East. Mohamed said that he wanted out of this country and would like to go to Somalia, Sinai or Egypt. Mohamed also said that his dream was to go to Iraq, but the border was closed.
Mohamed asked the UC to help him research travel and said that he will go on the internet to find out how to get a visa in Egypt. Mohamed said that he will travel when he has money and learns about the visa.
Mohamed also indicated he would go quickly if he had a passport. He explained to the UC that his family does not know anything about jihad. While discussing Mohamed’s Social Media Platform #3 account, “AbuMohamed7,” Mohamed said that he creates so many accounts, but when he does not use them, the accounts get deleted.
Mohamed asked the UC if they both can make hijrah together and to let him know when the UC is ready. Mohamed stated that “if Allah wants us to make hijrah, we will make hijrah.”
Online communications between Mohamed and the UC continued throughout February and March, where the two discussed ideas on how Mohamed could travel abroad without a passport. Mohamed sent screenshots of a browser search for information on immigration travel documents which included a screenshot of Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. Mohamed told the UC that he will go to a humanitarian agency that offers immigration services. Mohamed indicated that he was going to submit Form 1-131.
On the evening of March 12, 2019, Mohamed met in person with the UC at Location 2 in Tucson, Arizona. Mohamed drove his vehicle to the meeting and brought Hussein with him. Hussein introduced himself to the UC as “Abdirrahman.” In a recorded conversation, Mohamed and Hussein focused their discussion with the UC on radical ideology and travel to the Middle East to make hijrah and to achieve martyrdom. Mohamed said that his goal was to make hijrah and fight in support of ISIS. Hussein stated that he supports Al-Shabaab and that he desires to travel to Syria. They also discussed potential future plans for travel. Mohamed indicated that he was going to apply for Form 1-131 that will allow him to travel without a passport. They also discussed ideas about what would make a good homeland attack.
In or around April 2019, Mohamed told the UC that he applied for his 1- 131 Immigration Travel Document. Mohamed made the following statement: ” … is this app… safe? I just want nobody knows our secret. So, we are going straight to Egypt right? The application when the guy asks me where are you going I told him Uganda I didn’t tell him Egypt … We can go straight to Egypt. Am going to say am going there for studying.”
On April 12, 2019, the FBI conducted an immigration database query on Mohamed to confirm that Mohamed had submitted his application. The query resulted in a positive match for a travel application document for Mohamed. The document was received on or about April 11, 2019, at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Nebraska Service Center. A review of the application revealed that Mohamed’s document was submitted on April 5, 2019. Attached to the application was a transaction payment form listing a money order in the amount of $220.
On April 22, 2019 , the UC met in person with Mohamed in the vicinity of Location 3 in Tucson, Arizona. In a recorded conversation, Mohamed mentioned that he had applied for his 1-131 Refugee Travel Document and that it will be sent to his residence.
Mohamed brought his 1-797 paperwork to the meeting to show the UC the progress of his travel document.
Mohamed also showed the UC a screen shot of a bank statement from his financial institution that showed approximately $2,000 and admitted to the UC that he is saving money for hijrah. They discussed plans to travel to the airport together and planned to purchase a round trip ticket to Egypt. The two talked about ideas of a cover story for their travel.
Mohamed said that their cover story can be they are going to Egypt to study for Ramadan.
Mohamed told the UC that as long as they stick to the story, they will be fine. Mohamed said that jihad is the only thing on his mind and that he wants to make the kuffar in Egypt cry. Mohamed stated, “Even when I kill them, I want to behead them.”
Mohamed said he called Hussein about the meeting, but Hussein was busy with family matters.
Mohamed said Hussein did not seem interested in “hijrah.”
In May 2019, in an online conversation, the UC asked Mohamed if he would still make hijrah alone and join ISIS if the UC couldn’t travel. Mohamed stated, “Yes I would still make hijrah, I would look someone who can help hijrah is so important I want to get out of here I want to live the law of Allah. I was planning to make hijrah since 2016.”
In a subsequent conversation with the UC, Mohamed was discussing Hussein and said, “am with the brother talking to him. We also watching the love among the believers. This brother also wants to make hijrah, he says after one month he will make hijrah.” Regarding a plane ticket for Hussein, Mohamed told the UC, “No he doesn’t have a plane ticket, but I can help him.” Mohamed told the UC that he was going to make a SMP-2 account for Hussein, and that Hussein likes the name “abu jihad.”
Mohamed told the UC that Hussein’ S SMP-2 username is “abujihadl 23.”
On or about May 28, 2019, Mohamed told the UC that Mohamed and Hussein submitted paperwork for Hussein’s travel documents. Mohamed said that he is saving his money and looking for another job so he can help Hussein purchase his airplane ticket.
On or about June 24, 2019, Mohamed and Hussein met with the UC at Location 4 in Tucson, Arizona. Hussein told Mohamed and the UC that he wants to leave as soon as possible for hijrah and that when his travel documents arrive, he will be ready.
Hussein said that Dawlah (Dawlah or Dawla is an Arabic term that refers to ISIS) is the best and that when he gets to Sinai, he needs blood on his hands. Hussein said that he will “kill so many people” and that he wants “to be on the front line.” Mohamed said that he will tell the people at the airport that he is traveling to learn Arabic and that he wants to learn the Quran. Hussein responded that he should not mention the Quran–just that he wants to learn Arabic.
Mohamed said that he has supported Dawlah since 2015 when he was 17 years old. Hussein responded that he had a different version of ISIS but when he started digging and was by himself and asking what they [ISIS] are fighting for, he knew that ISIS was on haqq (Haqq is an Arabic term that refers to Truth) and that he had to join them.
During the meeting at Location 4, Hussein made references to the ceremony after the last presidential election being a good target and said that he wanted to blow up the White House. Hussein said, “I am abu jihad, that’s my name, I’m not changing.” Hussein said that he wanted to travel around the world and “make explosion.” He indicated that if someone tries to stop him, he will come to Tucson and the “city will die.” Mohamed indicated that he and Hussein wanted to be the most wanted terrorists in the world and that they had to make a good plan on how to get out of here. Hussein responded that they are going to go together and that they already have a plan. During the meeting at Location 4, Mohamed gave the UC his travel documents for safe keeping and said he could not trust his family. Hussein said that he was trying to be patient.
On or about June 26, 2019, Mohamed told the UC that he and “abu jihad” started going to the gym so they could get stronger and “behead those kuffar.” Between July 5 and July 7, 2019, Mohamed expressed frustration to the UC about how much time it was taking for Hussein to get his travel documents.
Mohamed stated, “Akhi I don’t wanna complain, but wallahi now I hate to stay here even one second if I had wings, I would fly lol.” Mohamed told the UC that Hussein was having a lot of problems with his family and that he did not think Hussein was ready to make hijrah right now.
On July 10, 2019, Mohamed told the UC via S:MP-2 that Hussein received confirmation that his immigration paperwork was sent off in June and that everything was fine. On July 16, 2019, Hussein contacted the UC via S:MP-2 under the username “a bujihad l 23,” and told the UC that he had an appointment on Friday with immigration services in order to get an emergency travel document. On July 18, 2019, the FBI conducted an immigration database query on Hussein to confirm that Hussein had submitted his 1-131 application. The query resulted in a positive match for a travel application document for Hussein.
On July 19, 2019, Hussein met with a representative with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Tucson, Arizona. Hussein informed the USCIS employee that he was getting married in Egypt on July 30, 2019, and that he hoped to depart the United States by July 23, 2019. Hussein was informed that he may receive his emergency travel documents the week of July 22.
After Hussein’s meeting with USCIS, Mohamed contacted the UC on S:MP-2 and told the UC that “abu jihad” should be getting his travel documents by July 24 and that the story Hussein came up with was that he was getting married in Egypt and that Mohamed and the UC were part of his wedding party. Mohamed sent the UC a screenshot of an upcoming appointment that Hussein had with USCIS in the event Hussein does not receive his travel document by July 24, 2019. The image shows an appointment for “Abdi Hussein” on “July 24/25, 2019” between “8 am -12 pm.”
On July 23, 2019, the FBI received confirmation that Hussein’s travel document was shipped from the USCIS Nebraska Service Center to Hussein’s residence. It was delivered to Hussein’s home in Tucson, Arizona, on July 24, 2019.
On July 24, 2019, Mohamed informed the UC that he sold one of his vehicles for $4,500.00.
On July 25, 2019, Mohamed used his SMP-2 account to communicate to the UC. Mohamed stated that he and Hussein purchased round trip airline tickets from Tucson, Arizona, to Cairo, Egypt, with their departure from Tucson on July 26, 2019. The FBI conducted a database query and learned that Mohamed and Hussein purchased round trip airline tickets to Egypt. The flights depart Tucson International Airport on July 26, 2019 at 12:17 p.m. with a final destination of Cairo, Egypt.
On July 26, 2019, physical surveillance observed Mohamed, Hussein and the UC depart an apartment building together and drive a direct route to the Tucson International Airport. Mohamed and Hussein walked to the ticket counter, and the airlines agents gave them boarding passes for their pre-booked flights to Cairo, Egypt. Mohamed and Hussein proceeded through the security checkpoint. FBI Special Agents arrested Mohamed and Hussein at Tucson International Airport.