Houston Teenager Arrested On Charges Of Terrorism For Supporting ISIS

A teenager from Houston, Texas, was charged Monday for trying to support the radical Islamic State group and distributing information about how to make bombs, the United States Justice Department said.

Eighteen-year-old Kaan Sercan Damlarkaya was arrested Friday in Houston after the filing of a criminal complaint by federal prosecutors. He was charged with unlawfully distributing information on how to make explosives and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, the department said in a statement.

Damlarkaya engaged in online communications with undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents posing as ISIS supporters from August. He discussed with them his intentions to travel overseas and fight for ISIS. According to court documents, Damlarkaya wanted to commit an attack in the U.S. if he was unable to travel, CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

“The charges also indicate Damlarkaya asked if he could provide a farewell video to be published should he follow through with an attack resulting in his death in order to inspire others,” the statement added.

The criminal complaint alleged that Damlarkaya provided directions to the FBI agents on how to build AK-47 or AR-15 assault rifles from readily available parts, so as to avoid detection from authorities. He also provided a formula for the explosive, Triacetone Triperoxide, and instructions on how to use TATP in a pressure cooker device that contained shrapnel. He even discussed the possibility of using a machete or samurai sword as weapons.

According to court documents, Damlarkaya told the agents in November: “If I buy a gun or supplies for a bomb, [law enforcement] will heat up pressure [j]ust like a few months ago when I was trying an operation but they found out.”

He allegedly carried a knife with him wherever he went and slept with a machete under his pillow to protect himself in case his home was raided. Damlarkaya was born in Houston and lived with his parents and older brother.

Edward Hood , a neighbor, said about Damlarkaya: "The boys are sharp, both of them are, he's the most laid back one."

“When they were able to go to college, they were 14 or something like that, they were too young to go, they had to wait a year or so before they could get in," he added.

Hood said he saw no signs of the troubled teen that the court documents described.

Another neighbor Jonathan Scott said:"Kind of surprised. They seemed like the clique, just peaceful neighbors."

Damlarkaya was being held pending a detention hearing on Dec. 14 and an investigation was being conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. He will face a maximum 20-year prison sentence if convicted.