ISIS: Ohio Man Arrested On Charges Of Providing Support To Islamic State
An Ohio man has been arrested for providing support to ISIS. Amir Said Rahman Al-Ghazi, 38, was also indicted on various drugs and guns charges. Before changing his name, the Islamic State militant suspect was known as Robert McCollum. Al-Ghazi was arrested for attempting to purchase an AK-47 from an undercover federal agent in June.
The Ohio ISIS suspect allegedly attempted to convince others to fight for the Islamic State, and to carry out terror attacks in the United States. A 28-count indictment was filed against the Sheffield Lake man. The town is located in Lorain County in northeastern Ohio.
Amir Said Rahman Al-Ghazi allegedly tried to persuade others to join Islamic State and also expressed a desire to carry out an attack in the United States, the department said. According to the federal indictment filed against Al-Ghazi, he attempted to persuade other Americans to join ISIS from July, 2014, to June, 2015.
“Al-Ghazi, who changed his name from Robert McCollum earlier this year, is alleged to have pledged his support to ISIL and Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi via social media in 2014. From July 2014 to June 2015, Al-Ghazi made multiple statements trying to persuade others to join ISIL,” a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice read. “He also expressed his own desire to perpetrate an attack on the United States and had attempted to purchase an AK-47 assault rifle.”
“This indictment demonstrates law enforcement’s number one priority — to keep our communities and our nation safe,” a Justice Department Special Agent said. “It is clear that no area is immune from the influence of ISIL and its supporters. We hope this indictment will serve as a strong message to others who may consider providing support to terrorists. The FBI and our Joint Terrorism Task Force partners are committed to identifying and stopping these individuals.”
The Justice Department also reportedly believes that the Ohio ISIS suspect communicated with Islamic State members in the Middle East and “took steps” to create “propaganda” to further their cause.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Dettelbach detailed the charges levied against the Ohio ISIS suspect in a media address on Thursday.
“The charges in this case should remind us that ISIL does not simply present a far-away threat. Through social media and other means, ISIL and its mantra of violence can seek to radicalize people of all backgrounds in prisons and communities right here in Ohio. We must keep up our guard.”
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