Son Of Afghan Migrants Arrested In Colorado, Charged With Trying To Join ISIS: Report
Federal law enforcement officers arrested the son of Afghan migrants this week. He was allegedly attempting to board a plane to the Middle East to join the Islamic State, an FTO designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Humzah Mashkoor (18), from Colorado, has been arrested at Denver International Airport on Monday before he could board a plane headed “to the United Arab Emirates where he planned to stay until he went on to either Afghanistan, or Syria, to serve as a ISIS fighter,” according to a Department of Justice statement.
He was accused of attempting to provide support material to a FTO.
According to Denver7 News, authorities began monitoring Mashkoor’s activities in November 2021. He had reportedly expressed his support for ISIS online and used social media to communicate with ISIS supporters.
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He began communicating with undercover FBI agents posing to be supporters of ISIS the following year. In the report, he expressed his “intention to join ISIS in the fight, to provide money to the group and to recruit other supporters.” He said that he was in Afghanistan before his family had to leave.
He was upset that he couldn’t make the trip, or give resources to the terrorist group because he is still a minor.
The report stated that he expressed an interest in getting married and finding a job as well as finishing his high-school education earlier this year. He was worried about “abandoning’ his future wife if he were to be “martyred” in Afghanistan.
He did not tell his family why he left the U.S. and only bought a plane ticket for one way to the U.A.E.
He said to one of the agents undercover that his family was upset he was leaving. “I didn’t know what to say to them to say goodbye or to explain the reasons for my departure without compromising myself.”
Upon arriving at DIA he went through the TSA checkpoint. He was immediately taken into custody after passing through.
The search warrant executed at his home revealed an ISIS flag as well as a note explaining the intent of his joining the group.
Denver7 News has highlighted the following extracts from a journal that police say they found:
“I fell in lust with their (ISIS’) steadfastness despite such hatred.”
“I decided to become like them.” “Leaving behind the life of hypocrisy and humiliation, I migrated to the lands where jihad is practiced.”
“I have no regrets whatsoever about the blessed path that is decorated with thorns. I wish to receive one of two things. “I hope to be granted either victory over my enemies or martyrdom.”
Goodbye.” “I’ll never forget what you did for me, and I’m sorry about how I treated you.” Goodbye.”
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