U.S. man arrested at Chicago airport for attempting to join IS

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, October 7, 2014
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An American man has been arrested in Chicago for attempting to travel overseas to join the militant organization Islamic State (IS) fighting in Iraq and Syria, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.

Mohammed Hamzah Khan, 19, was taken into custody Saturday at the O' Hare International Airport by the Chicago Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force, before he attempted to fly to Vienna, Austria, on his way to Istanbul, Turkey, the department said in a news release.

A round-trip ticket was purchased for Khan on Sept. 26 to travel from Chicago to Istanbul, departing on Saturday, and returning later this week, the Justice Department said.

Khan was interviewed by FBI agents at the airport after his arrest. Federal agents then searched Khan's residence and recovered multiple handwritten documents that appeared to be drafted by Khan and/or others, which expressed support for the IS. Some of those documents included Khan's travel plans and materials referencing the IS and jihad.

Khan, charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, appeared Monday morning in a U.S. district court and remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing Thursday.

Attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a 250,000-U.S.dollar fine. Endite

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