Not addressed in any way is the connection to these Muslims' local mosques, their imams, their connections, what they teach, what materials they promote, whether they are funded by Islamic governments overseas. These are not only valid, but essential questions, as four separate studies since 1999 have shown that upwards of 80% of mosques in the United States promote jihad.
Related:
- EU Underestimates Number of Westerners Fighting for Jihad
- Challenging Mosque Expansions - The Time is Now
Americans linked to ISIS
CNN — Updated April 23, 2015 (Thanks to Anita)
It's unclear how many Americans have been caught attempting to join or help ISIS, but National Intelligence Director James Clapper has said 180 Americans have tried to go fight in Syria. Experts say most of them are disillusioned young people trying to find purpose or make their mark. While that's largely true, there are outliers. Below are details about some of the cases that have been made public.
Donald Morgan, age 'unknown' —Salisbury, North Carolina
U.S. authorities arrested an American man returning from overseas who they say is a sympathizer of the terrorist group ISIS. Morgan was arrested on August 2 on arrival at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport from Frankfurt, Germany, according to federal court documents.
Mufid Elfgeeh, age 30 —Rochester, New York
A man who owns an upstate New York food store funded ISIS, tried to send jihadists to Syria to fight with the terrorist group and plotted to do some killing himself -- by gunning down U.S. troops who had served in Iraq -- federal authorities alleged Tuesday. Elfgeeh, 30, was arrested for trying "to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization" (namely, ISIS), one count of attempting to kill officers and employees of the United States, two counts of having an unregistered firearm silencer and one for possessing guns or silencers "in furtherance of a crime of violence."
Unknown, age 19 —St. Paul, Minnesota
In a separate case, a 19-year-old American Somali woman from St. Paul snuck away from her parents on Aug. 25 saying she was going to a bridal shower. Instead, she flew to Turkey and joined IS in Syria. … The St. Paul woman is the first case of an area female joining IS that has been made public although her family have asked for her name to be kept private because it fears retaliation from Islamists. … The St. Paul woman is highly likely to have been recruited by IS through Islamist sympathizers in the United States, rather than joining the group on her own, (Somali leaders) said. At least one other woman is suspected of helping her leave the United States.
Douglas Mccain, age 33 —New Hope, Minnesota
An American man in Syria while fighting for ISIS, the latest evidence of the reach of a terror group that's become increasingly powerful and feared in the eyes of Americans. Douglas McAuthur McCain, 33, died in a battle between rival extremist groups in the suburbs of Aleppo, Syria's once-bustling commercial capital and largest city, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based group that monitors the conflict. The man's uncle, Ken McCain, said that his nephew had gone to fight as a jihadi and that the U.S. State Department told the family Monday about the death.
Michael Todd Wolfe, age 23 —Austin, Texas
Arrested at George H.W. Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport before a flight to Europe, Wolfe was charged in June "with attempting to provide material support to terrorists," authorities said. He "planned to travel to the Middle East to provide his services to radical groups engaged in armed conflict in Syria," according to a complaint.
Abdullah Yusuf, age 18 —Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
The 18-year-old from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, pleaded guilty at a Minneapolis federal court to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS. Yusuf was stopped by the FBI from boarding a flight to Turkey from Minneapolis/Saint Paul Airport in May. Yusuf and another man, Abdi Nur, were charged in late November with conspiring to aid ISIS.
Shannon Maureen Conley, age 19 —Arvada, Colorado
Conley's plan to join ISIS and serve as a nurse at a jihadist camp ended in September with a guilty plea on a terror charge in a Colorado federal court. Arrested in April, the 19-year-old was at Denver International Airport about to embark on a journey to Germany and eventually to an ISIS camp near the Turkish border. She told investigators she was going to Turkey to await word from her suitor, an ISIS member she met on the Internet, whom she planned to marry.
Christopher Cornell, age 20 —Cincinnati, Ohio
The Cincinnati 20-year-old was on the FBI's radar for months as he posted about violent jihad on social media. The feds said they arrested him before he could hatch his alleged plot to set off a bomb at the U.S. Capitol and shoot evacuees as they fled. Cornell allegedly told an informant he had been in contact with people overseas, and that he had aligned himself with ISIS. The attack, according to the complaint, would be a way of supporting the extremist group.
Ahmad Abousamra, age 33 —Stoughton, Massachusetts
The man was first placed on the FBI terror list for 2009 crimes but since has been suspected of joining ISIS, officials said. He's fluent in both English and Arabic, and if his college degree in computers is any indication, he has a way with technology. Then there's his interest in radical Islam. Put it all together, and authorities said former Boston resident and U.S. citizen Ahmad Abousamra could be a good fit inside the ISIS social media machine that's become renowned in recent weeks for spewing brutal propaganda across social media.
Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, age 22 —Vero Beach, Florida
The son of a Palestinian father and Italian-American mother, the 22-year-old from Vero Beach, Florida, is believed to be the first American suicide bomber to die in Syria. The former high school football player killed himself in May 2014 when he drove a truck full of explosives into a Syrian army position and detonated it, U.S. officials said.
Unidentified Teen, age 'minor' —Denver, Colorado, Area
One of three teenage girls who set out from a Denver suburb apparently bound for Syria to join extremists were sent home to their parents after they were stopped in Germany, U.S. officials said. The teens -- two sisters of Somali descent and a friend whose family is Sudanese, according to a Denver community leader -- were detained when their flight landed in Frankfurt on Friday after the FBI flagged their passports.
Unidentified Teen, age 'minor' —Denver, Colorado, Area
One of three teenage girls who set out from a Denver suburb apparently bound for Syria to join extremists were sent home to their parents after they were stopped in Germany, U.S. officials said. The teens -- two sisters of Somali descent and a friend whose family is Sudanese, according to a Denver community leader -- were detained when their flight landed in Frankfurt on Friday after the FBI flagged their passports.
Unidentified Teen, age 'minor' —Denver, Colorado, Area
One of three teenage girls who set out from a Denver suburb apparently bound for Syria to join extremists were sent home to their parents after they were stopped in Germany, U.S. officials said. The teens -- two sisters of Somali descent and a friend whose family is Sudanese, according to a Denver community leader -- were detained when their flight landed in Frankfurt on Friday after the FBI flagged their passports.
Adam Dandach, age 21 —Orange, California
The 21-year-old California man was arrested last summer, but was indicted on Wednesday. The FBI said he attempted to offer himself and material support to work under the direction and control of ISIS. His arraignment is scheduled for later this month.
Unidentified Virginia Student, age 17 —Washington Suburb
The 17-year-old Virginia student has been charged with helping recruit for ISIS, federal law enforcement officials said Wednesday. The teen lives in a suburb of Washington and is accused of helping a slightly older adult travel to Syria. The adult is believed to have joined ISIS there. The student is also accused of distributing ISIS messages.
Abror Habibov, age 30 —New York City (Arrested In Jacksonville, Fl)
Habibov and two other men are accused by the federal government of attempting to join ISIS and of fostering plans to kill the President and shoot law enforcement officers. The three men face charges that include attempting and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court. Habibov, 30, was in the United States legally, but overstayed his visa, police said.
Akhror Saidakhmetov, age 19 —New York City
Arrested last month in New York and Florida, they are accused by the federal government of attempting to join ISIS and of fostering plans to kill the President and shoot law enforcement officers. The three men face charges that include attempting and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court. Saidakhmetov had permanent resident status.
Abdurasul Juraboev, age 24 —New York City
Arrested last month in New York and Florida, they are accused by the federal government of attempting to join ISIS and of fostering plans to kill the President and shoot law enforcement officers. The three men face charges that include attempting and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court. Juraboev had permanent resident status.
Abdi Nur, age 20 —Minneapolis, Minnesota
The 20-year-old was charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Nur "conspired to join ISIL and travel from Minnesota to the Middle East to engage in a campaign of terror," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin said in November, using another acronym for ISIS.
Mohammed Hamzah Khan, age 19 —Chicago, Illinois
Kahn was arrested at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago in October. The 19-year-old is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. In a letter to his parents, Kahn wrote that he was leaving the United States and on the way to join ISIS, court documents said.
Hasan Edmonds, age 22 —Chicago, Illinois
Spc. Hasan Edmonds, 22, was arrested Wednesday night at Chicago Midway International Airport while attempting to travel to Egypt to eventually join ISIS, according to Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin and other federal officials said.
Jonas "Yunus" Edmonds, age 29 —Aurora, Illinois
Jonas "Yunus" Edmonds, 29, was arrested at his home in Aurora in connection with an alleged plot to carry out an armed attack on an unspecified U.S. military facility in northern Illinois where his cousin, Hasan Edmonds, had been training.
Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, age 23 —Columbus, Ohio
Charged with one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to terrorists, one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, and one count of making false statements to the FBI in an indictment returned in the Southern District of Ohio. According to the indictment, Mohamud stated that, after arriving in Syria, he obtained training from a group in shooting weapons, breaking into houses, explosives and hand-to-hand combat. Mohamed also stated that, after completing this training, he was instructed by a cleric in the organization to return to the United States and commit an act of terrorism.
Zacharia Yusuf Abdurahman, age 19 —Minneapolis, Minnesota
A group of six young Minnesota men conspired to sneak into Syria and join ISIS "by any means necessary," federal prosecutors said April 20. Abdurahman, Adnan Farah, Musse and Omar were arrested in Minneapolis. Daud, 21, and Mohamed Abdihamid Farah were arrested in San Diego after driving there in hopes of crossing into Mexico. They plotted for 10 months, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota said. "Even when their co-conspirators were caught and charged, they continued to seek new and creative ways to leave Minnesota to fight for a terror group."
Adnan Farah, age 19 —Minneapolis, Minnesota
A group of six young Minnesota men conspired to sneak into Syria and join ISIS "by any means necessary," federal prosecutors said April 20. Abdurahman, Adnan Farah, Musse and Omar were arrested in Minneapolis. Daud, 21, and Mohamed Abdihamid Farah were arrested in San Diego after driving there in hopes of crossing into Mexico. They plotted for 10 months, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota said. "Even when their co-conspirators were caught and charged, they continued to seek new and creative ways to leave Minnesota to fight for a terror group."
Hanad Mustafe Musse, age 19 —Minneapolis, Minnesota
A group of six young Minnesota men conspired to sneak into Syria and join ISIS "by any means necessary," federal prosecutors said April 20. Abdurahman, Adnan Farah, Musse and Omar were arrested in Minneapolis. Daud, 21, and Mohamed Abdihamid Farah were arrested in San Diego after driving there in hopes of crossing into Mexico. They plotted for 10 months, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota said. "Even when their co-conspirators were caught and charged, they continued to seek new and creative ways to leave Minnesota to fight for a terror group."
Guled Ali Omar, age 20 —Minneapolis, Minnesota
A group of six young Minnesota men conspired to sneak into Syria and join ISIS "by any means necessary," federal prosecutors said April 20. Abdurahman, Adnan Farah, Musse and Omar were arrested in Minneapolis. Daud, 21, and Mohamed Abdihamid Farah were arrested in San Diego after driving there in hopes of crossing into Mexico. They plotted for 10 months, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota said. "Even when their co-conspirators were caught and charged, they continued to seek new and creative ways to leave Minnesota to fight for a terror group."
Abdirahman Yasin Daud, age 21 —San Diego, California
A group of six young Minnesota men conspired to sneak into Syria and join ISIS "by any means necessary," federal prosecutors said April 20. Abdurahman, Adnan Farah, Musse and Omar were arrested in Minneapolis. Daud, 21, and Mohamed Abdihamid Farah were arrested in San Diego after driving there in hopes of crossing into Mexico. They plotted for 10 months, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota said. "Even when their co-conspirators were caught and charged, they continued to seek new and creative ways to leave Minnesota to fight for a terror group."
Mohamed Abdihamid Farah, age 21 —San Diego, California
A group of six young Minnesota men conspired to sneak into Syria and join ISIS "by any means necessary," federal prosecutors said April 20. Abdurahman, Adnan Farah, Musse and Omar were arrested in Minneapolis. Daud, 21, and Mohamed Abdihamid Farah were arrested in San Diego after driving there in hopes of crossing into Mexico. They plotted for 10 months, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota said. "Even when their co-conspirators were caught and charged, they continued to seek new and creative ways to leave Minnesota to fight for a terror group."
Unknown, age 16 —York County, South Carolina
A South Carolina teen pleaded guilty April 22, 2015, to plotting an attack on a U.S. military base before attempting to travel to Syria to join ISIS, CNN affiliate WBTV reported. Police, who found an ISIS flag in the teen's bedroom while executing a search warrant, said the teen acknowledged that he and a person from North Carolina had plotted to rob a gun store so they could attack a military installation in retaliation for U.S. military airstrikes on ISIS.
Hoda Muthana, age 20 — Hoover, Alabama
After Buzzfeed published an April 17, 2015, interview with the woman, who said she was in Raqqa, family members and community leaders confirmed to CNN affiliate that Hoda Muthana had indeed left her family to join ISIS. In March, she posted a photo of four passports to Twitter with the tweet, "Bonfire soon, no need for these anymore." Jordan Laporta, who graduated high school with Muthana, told CNN she was a bright and quiet girl who wore a hijab and kept to herself and her small group of friends. He said he was surprised to learn she was a jihadi, and asked about he devotion to Islam, he said he never spoke to her about it.