New Jersey man allegedly motivated by Oct. 7 Hamas assault arrested, accused of looking for to hitch al Shabaab terrorists

A New Jersey man, impressed by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, was arrested in Kenya, after allegedly looking for to hitch terrorist forces in Africa, authorities stated Friday.

Karrem Nasr, a 23-year-old Backyard State resident and U.S. citizen who additionally went beneath the title Ghareeb Al-Muhaji, was taken into custody in Nairobi on Dec. 14 earlier than being taken to the USA on Thursday, federal prosecutors stated.

Nasr, “motivated by the heinous terrorist assault perpetrated by Hamas” on Oct. 7, “devoted himself to waging violent jihad in opposition to America and its allies,” in response to a press release by the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace out of the Southern District of New York.

The suspect “was ready to kill and be killed” and “particularly aspired to be a martyr for the jihadi trigger,” in response to a felony grievance.

He sought to assault “evil America,” which he referred to as the “head of the snake,” in response to the grievance.

Nasr particularly wished to hitch al-Shabab and traveled from Egypt to Kenya on Dec. 14 “for functions of in the end becoming a member of and coaching with” the militant group, the FBI agent wrote.

He had deliberate to journey to Somalia to join al–Shabab earlier than he was picked up by Kenyan authorities on Dec. 14, officers stated.

Nasr has been charged with one depend of making an attempt to supply materials help to a international terrorist group.

His most lately listed U.S. deal with is in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Messages left on cellphone numbers related to that deal with weren’t instantly responded to Friday.

It wasn’t instantly clear Friday afternoon whether or not Nasr had employed or been assigned a felony protection lawyer to talk on his behalf.

Nasr allegedly instructed an FBI “confidential supply” that he was born and raised in the USA however had moved to Egypt this yr to check Arabic.

The suspect’s mom had been pressuring him to come back again to America and Nasr stated his dad and mom had no concept about his hopes to hitch jihadists, the FBI stated.

“They need their youngsters to see life, be medical doctors, engineers, and make some huge cash,” Nasr instructed the FBI supply on Dec. 10, in response to the grievance. “As I stated, they don’t want their youngsters be mujahedeen and students. She needs me to come back again to America to proceed my schooling and work.”