Dearborn Man Accused of Terrorism: DOJ

DEARBORN, MI — A 37-year-old Dearborn man was recently arrested for for supporting and receiving military training from the terrorist organization Hezbollah, according to multiple media reports. Samer el Debek was arrested on June 1 in Livonia and now faces seven charges related to terrorism, with punishment that could range up to life in prison if he’s convicted.

El Debek, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was one of two people arrested by the Department of Justice. Hezbollah is an Islamic Jihad Organization, WXYZ-TV reported.

“Last week’s arrest related to alleged illegal activity which did not occur in Michigan,” David Gelios, special agent in charge of the Detroit division of the FBI, said a statement. “FBI Detroit has no credible information to suggest any terrorism threat to the Metropolitan Detroit area. That said, we urge the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to your local law enforcement agency or to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force of the Detroit Field Office at 313-965-2323.”

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Hezbollah is believed to have recruited El Debek in late 2007 or early 2008, according to the Department of Justice. He is said to have received military training in Lebanon through 2015 and conduct military missions on behalf of the terrorist organization in Panama and Thailand. The FBI believes he was trained as a bomb-maker, WXYZ-TV reported.

Among charges facing el Debek include:

• Providing and attempting to provide a material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, maximum sentence of 20 years in prison
• Conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, maximum sentence of 20 years in prison
• receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, maximum sentence of 10 years in prison
• Conspiracy to receive military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, maximum sentence of five years in prison

For a complete list of charges and more information, go to WXYZ.com

File photo