An American citizen was apprehended in Nairobi on charges of threatening to bomb the United States for it’s stand on being in solidarity with the Hamas assault on Israel.
As confirmed by the US Justice Department on Friday, the individual had journeyed from Egypt to Kenya at the start of December with the intent to join the militant faction Al-Shabaab which is based in Somalia.
Kenya has faced a series of terrorist incidents in 2023, largely attributed to the Al-Shabaab insurgents. Their attacks have primarily targeted security personnel and inhabitants of regions bordering Somalia.
The 23-year-old suspect had devised plans to undergo extensive jihad (holy war) training from the group. He had also pledged to initiate hostilities against the USA and its coalitions, including Israel.
Per the Justice Department, the suspect’s motivations were sparked by the actions of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, particularly their attack on Israel.
“As alleged, the suspect, motivated by the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies,” a portion of the statement read.
Upon arriving in Nairobi, the individual met with various members of Al-Shabaab. He was in the process of finalizing plans to journey to Somalia to formally join the group when law enforcement officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) intercepted and arrested the suspect before he could leave Kenya.
Several days later, the 23-year-old was extradited to the US to face charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The US Department highlighted that these charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
