The FBI has launched a manhunt to find an Army recruit who is allegedly planning a ‘Fort Hood-style’ jihad terrorism attack. A man identified only as Booker reportedly told his friends of about his “intention to commit jihad.” Booker is also reportedly known as Muhammad Abdullah Hassan.
The Army recruit joined the military in February in Kansas City, Missouri. Booker was supposed to report for basic training on April 7, but was discharged from the military late last week and law enforcement officers were alerted about his alleged Fort Hood jihad plans.
Both the FBI and the 902nd Military Intelligence Group out of Fort Leavenworth are involved in the search for the Army recruit who was allegedly planning a terrorism attack of some type on a military base. A Kansas City Division of the FBI office distributed the jihad alert and details about Booker through the US Marine Corps on Friday, according to Fox News . The alert reportedly did not include a photo of the man also known as Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, or an age of the man. The Kansas City Police Department also received the Army recruit alert because military officials believe Booker many have remained in the area where he was initially recruited while awaiting the deadline to report to basic training.
Excerpt from the Army recruit alert:
“Planned Fort Hood-inspired Jihad against US Soldiers by Army recruit. [This was issued] to inform and protect officers who may encounter this individual or others exhibiting the same aspirations. On 20 March 2014, the Kansas City Division FBI became aware of an individual named BOOKER aka Muhammad Abdullah Hassan who had publicly stated his intention to commit jihad, bidding farewell to his friends and making comments indicating his jihad was imminent. BOOKER had been recruited by the US Army in Kansas City, Mo., in February 2014 and was scheduled to report for Basic Training on 7 April 2014. Kansas City Division Agents interviewed BOOKER on 20 March 2014.”
Law enforcement officers familiar with the Fort Hood Jihad alert told the media that the FBI alert appears to indicate that individuals in addition to the man identified as Booker may also be involved with the terrorist plot. During the Fort Hood shooting in November 2009, Major Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, became a radicalized Muslim while serving in the military and gunned down 13 people and injured dozens more on the Texas Army base. After dismissing his attorneys after clashing with them of his defense strategy, Hasan was convicted and sentenced to death.