NEW YORK- Syed Aman, a U.S. citizen was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York in Queens, on November 5th as he attempted to board a Qatar Airways (QR) flight to Doha (DOH).
His intended destination was Syria, where he planned to join the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), the US Department of Justice reported.
Man Arrested at New York JFK
According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn, Aman had expressed his support for ISIS through social media posts in an online ISIS group forum throughout 2023 and 2024.
He had also sent money to an individual he believed to be an ISIS operative, intending to support the group’s efforts in Syria.
Aman’s arrest at the airport prevented him from traveling to Syria to engage in jihad, or holy war, on behalf of ISIS.
Syed Aman, a U.S. citizen and resident of Nassau County, New York, had been in contact with a confidential human source (CHS) working with the FBI since early October 2023.
During these conversations, Aman expressed his desire to join the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in Syria, stating that “jihad and hijrah,” referring to traveling to ISIS-controlled territory and waging war on ISIS’s behalf, were “the most important thing, more than anything else at the moment.”
Aman also shared his hatred for “kuffar [non-believers] who deny the path of Allah,” and told the CHS, “[i]f you don’t kill them they will kill us and ruin the earth with decay.”
During this time, Aman posted on a social media platform his desire “to kill Americans” and wrote in a notebook his intent to study becoming a shaheed, or martyr, on behalf of ISIS.
In late October 2024, Aman made two unsuccessful attempts to book travel to the Middle East, but his credit card company blocked the purchases.
On his third attempt, Aman was able to book a Qatar Airways flight from JFK Airport to Dhaka (DAC), Bangladesh via Doha (DOH). Aman told the CHS that he intended to disembark from his flight in Qatar and purchase a ticket to Turkey, where he would then seek to cross into Syria to join ISIS.
Aman also stated that he would travel with a steel pen to defend himself if he were arrested and that he would attack law enforcement. When Aman was arrested at JFK Airport as he tried to board his flight, a silver metal pen was found in his crossbody bag.
FBI Investigate
On November 5th, Syed Aman traveled to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to board a flight to Doha, Qatar. After checking in and passing through airport security, Aman attempted to board his flight, at which point he was arrested by the FBI.
The arrest was announced by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells for the FBI’s National Security Branch.
The FBI is currently investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York is prosecuting the case, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney T.J. Reardon III of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
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