Bronx Man Accused Of Joining ISIS Arrested At JFK Airport: Report

A Bronx-based home health aide was arrested Wednesday at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York following an alleged attempt to flee the country to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to a press release by U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim.

Saddam "Adam" Mohamed Raishani, 30, was reportedly caught preparing to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey while posing as a nurse.

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Unbeknownst to Rashani, a detective from the New York City police department and a government informant went undercover in January to investigate and befriend Rashani, posing as men who wanted to fight for ISIS. Rashani had contacted the undercover cop to inform him of his plan to help ISIS. He was reportedly so committed to joining the terrorist group that he was willing to leave behind his family and wife.

"As alleged, Saddam Mohamed Raishani, a Bronx man, plotted to travel to Syria to join and train with the terrorist organization ISIS," Kim said in a statement. "Having already helped another man make that trip to ISIS’s heartland, Raishani allegedly acted on his own desire to wage violent jihad, planning to leave his family and life in New York City for the battlefields of the Middle East."

"Thanks to the excellent work of the FBI and NYPD, Raishani’s alleged plan to support this deadly terrorist organization was cut short at the airport and now he will face federal terrorism charges," Kim added.

Commissioner James P. Neil of the NYPD said that "allegedly attempting to join a designated terrorist organization usually has one outcome: arrest."

Ahead of his own attempt, Rashani helped to fly out another ISIS recruit. He provided money, supplies and airport transportation to the fellow recruit. While he was been in contact with other supporters of the terrorist group, Rashani began to no longer feel safe in the United States.

Rashani desired to travel internationally before the end of Ramadan, an Islamic holy month lasting between May 26 and June 24. In April 2017, he began to plan his hiraj, an Arabic term meaning migration that ISIS supporters use to reference traveling overseas to aid the terrorist organization's efforts.

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"It is also a great example of the coordination which exists among local and federal law enforcement partners who work together to stop these alleged threats and interdict individuals allegedly determined on joining a terrorist organization intent on conducting violence around the globe," said William F. Sweeney Jr., FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge. "The FBI’s JTTF will continue to work with our partners, both here and abroad, to prevent acts of terrorism."

The ISIS supporter informed the detective and informant of ways to avoid being caught by the authorities.

To hide internet search history, he advised them to use a certain browser, claiming he'd used this browser to view videos in support of jihad and ISIS. Rashani also told them to cover the computer's webcam and turn off its microphone to prevent further detection, adding that he had suspected law enforcement to be tracking his every move.

"The National Security Division’s highest priority is countering terrorist threats," Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana Boente said in a statement. "We will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations."

Rashani was charged with attempting to help support a terrorist group. Rashani could face up to 20 years in prison, which is the maximum sentence for a crime of this caliber.

At this time, his acts are being considered as accusations. Rashani will be innocent until he is proven guilty in a court of law. The case is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. He was expected to appear Thursday in the Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.

Rashani's arrest follows another similar event by a Bronx-based man. Lebanon-born citizen Ali Kourani, 32, was arrested at JFK for leaving the country to join Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Organization in early June, according to the New York Times. The two events are unrelated.