An 18-year-old Westminster man was arrested by the FBI at Denver Worldwide Airport on Monday as he allegedly started an abroad journey to affix the Islamic State group as a fighter.
Humzah Mashkoor was arrested on the airport at about 9 a.m. after clearing safety however earlier than he reached the terminal trains, in accordance with a grievance filed in federal district court docket on Monday.
Mashkoor is charged with making an attempt to offer materials assist to a chosen overseas terrorist group.
In accordance with a 37-page grievance filed by the FBI, Mashkoor started speaking with company staff posing as Islamic State group supporters on-line in September 2022.
Over the next 14 months, Mashkoor “repeatedly expressed his intent to journey in an effort to be a part of ISIS as a fighter, to offer cash to ISIS to assist their efforts, and to recruit others to additionally assist ISIS via journey and/or monetary contributions,” in accordance with the grievance.
Mashkoor additionally instructed FBI staff that an Islamic State group contact prompt he conduct an assault in america, however that Mashkoor was nervous about how that will impression his household and that he would reasonably journey abroad to affix the terrorist group.
In accordance with the grievance, Mashkoor instructed FBI staff that he was born within the U.S. and had returned to Afghanistan for a number of years earlier than his household was pressured to depart. He had additionally beforehand supported the Taliban, in accordance with the grievance.
Mashkoor used coded language on social media and encrypted messaging functions to speak with undercover FBI staff, telling them his plans to journey abroad to affix the Islamic State group have been delayed as a result of he was not but 18 years outdated and his household wouldn’t let him go away.
At one level, Mashkoor instructed the undercover FBI staff that he hoped that “Allah permits me to kill most of the enemy with my very own fingers,” together with particular spiritual teams.
Mashkoor additionally mentioned leaving movies to elucidate what he was doing to his household however stated he was nervous that federal brokers have been monitoring his on-line exercise.
Mashkoor purchased tickets to fly out of Denver to the United Arab Emirates with a relative, the place he would keep till he traveled on to Afghanistan or Syria to battle for the Islamic State group, in accordance with the grievance.
After his arrest, FBI officers discovered journal entries at Mashkoor’s Westminster house through which he wrote about feeling remoted till he discovered “others like” him and that he had no regrets about his path, in accordance with the grievance.
“And I hope to be granted one in all two issues. Victory over my enemies, or martyrdom,” Mashkoor wrote in his journal, in accordance with the FBI grievance.
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