MN man with Somali ties facing charges of providing support to ISIS

Perhaps motivated by the same sentiments that inspired Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar to promote what critics called a “Somalia first” approach, a fellow Minnesotan now stands accused of conspiring to and actually providing support to ISIS in connection to a planned attack on New York City, as The Hill reports.

The Justice Department this week announced charges against Harafa, Hussein Abdi which could yield up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

Abdi, who moved from the U.S. to Somalia back in 2015, was taken into custody overseas, and will now face legal proceedings related to the counts leveled against him.

The 41-year-old stands accused of having joined the media arm of ISIS in order to film footage used by a “pro-ISIS media outlet” while also obtaining training on the use of an AK-47.

Abdi reportedly made comments back in 2017 about his plans to “fly through America on our way to shoot New York up,” adding, “We going to come blow New York up.”

Social media posts under his name allegedly included references to violent acts that were being planned for launch in Manhattan.

In a video he helped produce on behalf of ISIS, Abdi is heard to say, “We thank almighty God for making us His soldiers and chose us to be among the Khilafa troops...”[s]o do not stay behind, brother, and get on this caravan...[t]hose who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject Faith fight in the cause of Evil.”

A press release from the Justice Department provided additional details on the case against Abdi, noting that he was slated to appear before Magistrate Judge Valerie Figuredo in federal court on Friday.

Commenting on the matter, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olson of the DOJ's National Security Division said, “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,” he added.

Larissa Knapp, FBI National Security Branch executive assistant director, declared, “The FBI works tirelessly to protect the American people against acts of terrorism and will hold accountable all those who break our laws and endanger our citizens.”

“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners both here and overseas to uncover and disrupt terrorist activity,” Knapp went on.

Abdi now faces counts of conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, 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.

With potential penalties upon conviction of those offenses ranging from five to 20 years in prison, there appears to be a good chance that Abdi will not be able to conduct similar operations against the interest of the United States anytime soon.