Mohamed Haoud Alessa, Carlos Eduardo Almonte arrested Kennedy Airport, linked to Al Qaeda, Al Shabaab
The two men, 20 year old Mohamed Haoud Alessa and 24 year old Carlos Eduardo Almonte, were arrested while attempting to fly to Somalia out of Kennedy International Airport. The two New Jersey men were attempting to join an Al Qaeda supporting extremist group named Al Shabaab.
According to the complaint against the 2 men:
In October 2006, the FBI received a tip concerning the defendants’ activities. As the investigation continued, an NYPD Intelligence Division undercover officer (UC) recorded numerous meetings and conversations with them, during which the defendants discussed and prepared to carry out their plan.
Those preparations included saving thousands of dollars, physically conditioning themselves, engaging in paintball and other tactical training, acquiring military gear and apparel for use overseas, and purchasing airline tickets to Egypt with the intent to then travel to Somalia. The defendants also discussed their obligation to wage violent jihad and at times expressed a willingness to commit acts of violence in the United States.
The complaint also stated:
“I leave this time, God willing, I never come back. I’ll never see this crap hole. Only way I would come back here is if I was in the land of jihad and the leader ordered me to come back here and do something here. Ah, I love that.”
The defendants are expected to appear on Monday, June 7, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court.
Adapted from DOJ press release on PR Newswire.
