Police: FBI investigates mosque threat after Miss. ISIL arrests

JACKSON, Miss. — The investigation into social media threats against the Islamic Center of Mississippi in the wake of a Starkville couple's arrest is now in the hands of the feds.

The alleged threat was posted on Facebook Aug. 13. Officials with the Starkville Police Department confirmed Tuesday that the investigation is now in the hands of the FBI.

Former MSU students Jaelyn Young, 20, originally of Vicksburg, and Muhammad Dakhlalla, 22, of Starkville, were arrested at Golden Triangle Airport two weeks ago after trying to board a plane to Atlanta, en route to Syria, where a history of online communications with undercover FBI employees shows that they allegedly hoped to join the Islamic State.

"The FBI and the Starkville Police Department, together with federal and state prosecutors, are evaluating this threat  to determine whether federal or state charges would be appropriate,” FBI spokeswoman Deborah Madden said.

The imam of the mosque in Starkville is Oda Dahklalla, the father of Muhammad Dakhlalla. Both the Dakhlallas and Young's family have made statements that they are cooperating and supporting the investigation.

Dennis Harmon, attorney for the Dakhlalla family, said they took down all their social media accounts after the arrest, and they have not seen the alleged threats.

"All we have gotten are notes from people saying how much they sympathize and understand having a son getting in trouble like that, and how much they care for the Dakhlallas," Harmon said. "All we've heard is support and people telling them they remain in their prayers."

Both Dakhlalla and Young are charged with allegedly "conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a designated foreign terrorist organization."

"I guess the only thing to add now is that as bad as it is that the FBI has arrested Mo, they're relieved it was the FBI rather than ISIL," said Harmon of Muhammad Dakhlalla's family.