Police: Pennsylvania Teen Arrested For Trying To Help ISIS, May Have Planned Attack
HARRISBURG, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - A Pennsylvania 19-year-old has been arrested on charges he attempted to provide support to the Islamic State group.
Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz of Harrisburg is charged with two counts of attempting to provide material support to terrorists. He had an initial appearance in federal court on Thursday afternoon and will be detained pending a detention and preliminary hearing next week.
"I think people sometimes believe that these types of situations are only occurring in New York City or Los Angeles or Washington DC, and I think what we see is that this type of incident, this type of arrest can also happen in Harrisburg," said Marcus Brown with the PA Dept. of Homeland Security.
Federal prosecutors say a backpack in Aziz's closet contained five loaded high-capacity magazines, a modified kitchen knife, a thumb drive, medication and a balaclava, leading them to suspect he may have been plotting an attack.
Authorities say Aziz used Twitter to advocate violence against U.S. citizens and military members and to disseminate Islamic State propaganda. Court papers say Aziz also tried helping others travel to Syria to fight for the Islamic State.
A hand-written note was found tacked to the door of Aziz's home reading, "No Comment No News! No Tresspassing [sic]."
According to the criminal complaint, Aziz has used at least 57 different Twitter accounts to advocate violence against the United States and its citizens, to disseminate ISIL propaganda and espouse pro-ISIL views. Aziz is alleged to have posted a hyperlink containing the names, addresses and other identifying information of 100 reported members of the U.S. military and calls for violence against them.
"He went from complaining about our government to a point where he's threatening the president, where he went from a point of talking about it with his friends to really trying to take action, to do something about it," Brown said.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf released the following statement about Aziz's arrest:
"I commend the FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office and the Pennsylvania State Police, along with local law enforcement and other members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, for their efforts in apprehending this individual for his alleged efforts to aid ISIL. We understand that this individual is a U.S. citizen and his arrest is a reminder that we must remain vigilant, strong and focused on anyone here in the state who may seek to harm Pennsylvanians. I am proud of PSP's ongoing efforts to protect Pennsylvania citizens. My administration is in constant communication with our law enforcement partners and will continue to assist in any way possible. "
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The case is being investigated by the FBI's Philadelphia JTTF. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Robert Sander and Adam L. Small of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daryl Bloom of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse told pennlive.com that the city was aware of Aziz "and at no point was public safety in jeopardy."
"The Joint Terrorism Task Force has had their eye him for a long time, and at the point where he became radicalized to a point where he was going to take some sort of action that concerned law enforcement, that's when law enforcement stepped in," Brown said.
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