ISIS In America: Dozens Of Islamic State Supporters Reportedly Hiding In Plain Sight
ISIS supporters are in America by the “dozens” according to a new report by Vocativ. The group’s technology analysts have reportedly been able to uncover potential Islamic State militants hiding in plain sight in the United States – some of which are studying at colleges on scholarships.
The ISIS advocates found in America include a radical Muslim cleric with a criminal history, according to the Huffington Post. Another Islamic State supporter is allegedly a young man from New York City and attending a prominent university in the Midwest on a chemistry scholarship. The college student identified as an ISIS supporter reportedly uses the Islamic State flag as his Facebook banner and recently captured the attention of the Joint Terrorism Task Force due to his social media posts.
“I am sitting here right now with a couple of agents who have received some information and begun working on something,” a local law enforcement representative told Vocativ when asked about the NYC ISIS supporter.
Another alleged ISIS supporter is a Texas resident studying engineering management at an American university. The individual has reportedly been distributing Islamic State materials around campus. The individual has also reportedly been posting images of himself in ISIS clothing online. A local mosque allegedly kicked him out of the worship center after accusing him of attempting to spread “extremist messages.” Texas FBI field agents are now reportedly reviewing photos, videos, and online posts of the engineering student.
A woman in Minnesota was also noted on the ISIS in America list. She has reportedly been posting ISIS videos and photos of Anwar al-Awaki on her social media pages. Vocativ attempted to contact the three Islamic State supporters but none have yet responded. A clerk at a Minnesota mosque said the woman accused of being an ISIS supporter is a teacher at the center. The mother of the chemistry student said her son told Vocativ that her son is hoping to go to work at Proctor & Gamble. When reporters asked how her son could be reached she said he does not have a phone and “never does anything but study.” Within minutes of the conversation the college student’s’ Twitter and Facebook accounts were allegedly taken down.
Many of the alleged ISIS supporters discovered by Vocativ are reportedly followers of Ahmad Musa Jibril, a radical cleric from Michigan. Jibril is presently wearing a GPS tracking device as the result of a “probation incident.” The Michigan cleric served six years in prison for attempting to bribe a juror, money laundering, and tax evasion, the Huffington Post report notes.
One Vocativ source claims that Ahmad Musa Jibril has been attempting to recruit individuals to go to Syria and fight for ISIS. When a reporter for the media outlet went to Jibril’s door the cleric reportedly said, “Stay here for a minute and you’ll see what’s going to happen.” Vocativ has not released any of the names or addresses of the alleged ISIS supporters to the general public.
Do you think ISIS is in America and, if so, that such Islamic State supporters pose an imminent threat to homeland security?
[Image via: Facebook/Vocativ]
