Washington: A US teen has been indicted on charges of joining the ISIS, the terrorist organisation that has captured a large part of Syria and Iraq and has threatened regional peace.
Hamza Ahmed, 19, is at least the fourth person from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis charged as a result of an ongoing investigation into individuals who have traveled or are attempting to travel to Syria in order to join a foreign terrorist organisation, said US Attorney M Luger. According to the indictment and documents filed in court, Ahmed and three companions, travelled by bus from Minneapolis to New York City’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The four men were each booked on international flights scheduled to depart JFK on November 8, 2014. Ahmed and one of the unidentified individual were booked on the same flight from JFK to Istanbul, Turkey. Three others were prevented from boarding their flights. Ahmed successfully boarded, but was escorted from the aircraft by US Customs and Border Protection agents before it left the boarding gate. According to the indictment and documents filed in court, Ahmed was subsequently interviewed by FBI agents.
He made multiple false statements during the interview, including telling agents that he was traveling alone, and that he did not know the others. When Ahmed arrived back in Minnesota on November 9, 2014, FBI agents conducted a second voluntary interview, during which Ahmed again lied to agents, prosecutors said. (PTI)
British teen convicted of terrorist plan to behead soldier
London: A British teenager who rapidly became radicalized after converting to Islam was convicted on Friday of planning to behead a soldier. A jury at London’s Central Criminal Court found 19-year-old Brusthom Ziamani guilty of preparing an act of terrorism.
The London-born teenager was raised by Jehovah’s Witness parents but converted to Islam early in 2014 and became influenced by the radical group al-Muhajiroun. Prosecutors said Ziamani was inspired by the two Islamic extremists who murdered soldier Lee Rigby in a London street in 2013. (afp)
They said he researched the location of army cadet bases in London and told his girlfriend he planned to “kill soldiers” before he was arrested in August with a 12-inch (30-centimeter) knife and a hammer in his backpack.
Ziamani said he had only made the remarks to fit in with his extremist friends. His lawyer, Naeem Mian, said the teenager should not be convicted for having “undoubtedly repulsive views.” A jury deliberated for a day and a half before finding him guilty. Ziamani will be sentenced on March 20. (AP)
