Indiana teen accused of supporting Islamic State
INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana teenager accused of attempting to join Islamic State is now facing federal charges.
According to a federal criminal complaint, 18-year-old Akram I. Musleh of Brownsburg has been supporting the terrorist organization online for years.
He was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday while attempting to board a bus from Indianapolis to New York, where he was to fly to and transit through Morocco to ISIS-controlled territory.
Court documents allege that from there, his plan was to join Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS.
“The radicalization of American citizens by terrorist organizations like ISIL is a threat to our safety here and abroad,” U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler said in a statement. “I am committed to using the full authority of the United States Attorney’s Office to identify, investigate and prosecute those that materially support terrorism.”
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FBI investigators learned that Musleh's YouTube account shared videos of Anwar al-Awlaki, the late U.S.-born leader of al-Qaeda. Investigators spoke with Musleh at Brownsburg High School. The teen said he was aware of al-Awlaki's history and only used the videos to better understand the history of Islam.
But nine months later, Musleh went online and purchased the flag flown by ISIL, according to court documents. In June 2015, he posted a photo of himself in front of the flag.
Court documents say that he also used online communication to show his affiliation and support of the Islamic State. Investigators believe that Musleh attempted to travel to other countries to provide material support of ISIL, including himself as personnel.
Brownsburg police also responded to an incident in Williams Park where Musleh is accused of asking young people if they wanted to join the Islamic State.
Throughout 2015, Musleh made five reservations to travel to Iraq or Turkey, court documents said. FBI officials noted that Turkey is a common entry point to Syria for citizens of western countries who wish to join ISIL.
His planned trips in April and May 2015 fell through. In late June 2015, he attempted to board a flight in Chicago, but was stopped and questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Court documents said he first told investigators that he was going to visit family. He then said he was going to get married.
FBI officials learned that while he had no family in Turkey, he did have an alleged fiancee living in Sweden, who officials believe is an Islamic State sympathizer.
A search of Musleh’s baggage revealed that he was carrying a journal full of quotes by known terrorist leaders Abu Musab Zarqawi, Abdullah Azzam, Anwar al-Awlaki and Osama bin Laden.
In April, Musleh purchased a one-way ticket from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Morocco, court documents said. He also purchased a Greyhound bus ticket to travel from Indianapolis to New York on Tuesday.
About a month after buying his plane and bus tickets, Musleh viewed a news article about an Indiana Department of Homeland Security list of about 8,500 potential terror targets in Indiana, court documents said.
Around that same time, he researched explosive materials online. He also was seen shopping for pressure cookers by an FBI agent in the Brownsburg Wal-Mart. Court documents state that pressure cookers are used as a component in improvised explosive devices.
In the days after making his travel plans, according to records, Musleh had a conversation on social media expressing his desire to travel outside of the country to join ISIL.
During the exchange with an unidentified person listed as “User #1" in court documents, Musleh indicates that he is someone who User #1 has spoken with in the past about joining ISIL. Musleh then explains he had his passport renewed and explained why he was unable to travel in 2015.
In response, User #1 expresses concern about Musleh traveling to Syria to join. He also tells the teen to be patient and that he could be assisted when it comes to travel.
In subsequent exchanges with User #1, Musleh discusses carrying out violent operations for Islamic State on American soil.
User #1: How about operations there [?]
Musleh: What kind [?] As many people [k]ept on telling me that [.]
User #1: Kill a few kufr [non-Muslims or non-believers] or go to a drone place and blow the boots [u]p[.]
Musleh: Where is a drone place[?] Do you know where?
User #1: Find out yourself[.] Florida maybe[.]
Court documents say that when Musleh expresses concerns about carrying out an attack in the United States, User #1 suggests that the teen travel to Florida and carry out an attack against members of the U.S. military.
In another online conversations with someone called “User #3” in court documents, Musleh again asks for help traveling overseas to join ISIL. User #3 then uploads an Islamic State propaganda video that features User #1 explaining why he has not responded to Musleh’s requests for help.
Musleh then says he would like to be in an Islamic State propaganda video. User #3 says if he travels overseas and joins, he can be.
In mid-May 2016, a confidential FBI source contacted Musleh online and began a series of conversations, court documents said. During the conversation, Musleh says that he has prepared for travel and is working with members of ISIL to make it happen.
They talk about life in the Islamic State and how much money members are paid.
Musleh also states that he has pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State.
In late May, FBI agents searched Musleh’s phone, court documents said. They recovered files about jihad, martyrdom and ISIL, as well as several Islamic State produced magazines.
The phone also contained several images of Islamic State fighters in the Middle East, along with selfie photos of Musleh making a hand gesture consistent with a sign commonly used by Islamic fighters, according to documents.
On June 1, Musleh talked to someone referred to as User #4 in court documents about traveling through Sudan to join ISIL in Libya. User #4 then advises him that using direct messaging is not a safe way to communicate considering he lives in the United States.
On Tuesday, FBI agents saw Musleh enter the Greyhound station in downtown Indianapolis, court documents said. As he presented his ticket to board his bus, he was taken into custody.