22-Year-Old Minneapolis Man Arrested Trying To Help ISIS: Feds

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A 22-year-old Minneapolis man is accused of trying to travel to Somalia and join ISIS in December.

Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan was arrested Thursday on a criminal complaint charging him with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Hassan made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court Friday and was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing which will take place on March 5 in St. Paul.

In December, Hassan attempted to travel from Minnesota to Somalia to join ISIS on two occasions, neither of which was successful, authorities said.

Hassan attempted to disguise the purpose of his travel as visiting family despite having none in Somalia and was traveling with his birth certificate, naturalization certificate, and high school diploma, authorities said.

The FBI's investigation revealed that Hassan actively supported ISIS on social media through multiple posts and engaged with a Facebook account linked to the Manjaniq Media Center, a group that promotes ISIS recruitment and describes itself as a media arm of the Islamic Caliphate.

The investigation further revealed that Hassan praised Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the perpetrator of the Jan. 1 ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, authorities said.

On Feb. 21, Hassan also posted a video of himself driving while holding a small ISIS flag inside the vehicle, as well as another video of himself driving with an open knife on his lap, according to the FBI.

On Feb. 26, Hassan was seen driving while again holding the ISIS flag, investigators said.

"As we have all seen in recent months, ISIS and its supporters pose the gravest of dangers to our communities," said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. "Those who support foreign terrorist organizations in our homeland—like Hassan—are a clear and present threat to our national security. They will be held to account."

"The FBI will continue to aggressively use all of our authorities to investigate and arrest anyone who assists foreign terrorist organizations," said Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis.

"Hassan allegedly attempted to travel to Somalia to join ISIS on two occasions and publicly shared support of ISIS on his social media accounts. Such acts are wholly unacceptable, and the FBI will work tirelessly with our partners to hold accountable those who attempt to support terrorists."

The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar, and National Security Division Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorneys Ryan White and Charles Kovats, Jr., are prosecuting the case.