A “radical” Jordanian living in Texas allegedly planned an attack on Houston’s Jewish community before he was arrested on gun charges.
Sohaib Abuayyash, 20, had studied how to build bombs and broadcast about his support for killing Jews, federal officials alleged.
“He has seen specific and detailed content posted by radical organizations on the internet, including lessons on how to build bombs or explosive devices,” FBI Director Chris Wray told the Senate Homeland Security Committee, although he declined to identify Abuayyash by name.
“And the defendant has made statements to others advocating the killing of individuals of certain religious beliefs.”
Abuayyash even allegedly made a direct reference in a social media post to an event in Houston for the Jewish community, according to court documents obtained by CNN.
It did not include details on the target and timing of the alleged attack.
Sohaib Abuayyash, 20, had studied how to build bombs and broadcast about his support for killing Jews, federal officials alleged. United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Abuayyash is behind bars on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person with a nonimmigrant visa, and US Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan has ruled he should remain in custody pending trial.
He wrote in court documents that Abuayyash talked about committing martyrdom to support a religious cause and made statements “that he wanted to go to Gaza to fight,” according to the document, also obtained by CBS News.
“He has seen specific and detailed content posted by radical organizations on the Internet, including lessons on how to build bombs or explosive devices,” he wrote.
The affidavit filed on October 19 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas also said Abuayyash “has been in direct contact with others who share radical views, has undergone physical training and has been trained with weapons for possible attacks. “
Abuayyash is behind bars on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person with a nonimmigrant visa. Federal investigators have been monitoring Abuayyash’s activities since August, when agents conducting “open source research” saw video of him firing multiple firearms — including an AR-style weapon.
The affidavit states that federal investigators have been monitoring Abuayyash’s activities since August, when agents conducting “open source research” saw video of him firing multiple firearms — including an AR-style weapon.
He also reportedly visited several different shooting locations throughout Houston.
Abuayyash entered the US on a nonimmigrant visa, which expires in 2019, but has since applied for asylum and received permission to work in the United States until 2025, according to court documents.
But under federal law, those with nonimmigrant visas cannot legally obtain firearms in the United States.
Upon learning of Abuayyash’s alleged plan to attack Houston’s Jewish community, the FBI decided to proceed with the most immediate charge available – illegal possession of a firearm, an unidentified law enforcement source told CNN.
FBI Director Chris Wray cited the incident to the Senate Homeland Security Committee while warning that the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel will inspire other attacks around the world.ZUMAPRESS.com
That allowed the FBI to hold Abuayyash so prosecutors could ask a federal judge to hold him without bail as they continue their investigation.
Wray cited the incident to the Senate Homeland Security Committee while warning that Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel would inspire other attacks around the world.
“We judge that the actions of Hamas and its allies will be an inspiration, the likes of which we have not seen since ISIS launched the so-called caliphate many years ago,” he said, adding that the war in Gaza “has raised the threat of attacks on Americans in America Company to another level.
“In the United States, our most immediate concern is that violent extremists – individuals or small groups – will be inspired by events in the Middle East to carry out attacks on Americans going about their daily lives.
Abuayyash also allegedly expressed his desire to go to war in Gaza.Xinhua/Shutterstock
“That includes not only domestic violent extremists inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, but also domestic violent extremists who target the Jewish or Muslim communities,” he said, although he noted that over the past few weeks, foreign terrorist groups have called for attacks on America.
“Al Qaeda issued the most specific call to attack the US in the last five years. Hezbollah has threatened to attack US interests in the Middle East,” and ISIS “is trying to seize this moment, galvanize supporters,” Wray said.
He said the FBI “has no information to indicate that Hamas has the intent or the ability to conduct operations inside the US,” but “we cannot and do not rule that out.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
