Bx. man in ‘ISIS plot’
A Bronx home health aide was arrested at JFK Airport for plotting to “pose as a nurse” on a humanitarian mission in order to travel to Syria and join ISIS, federal authorities said Thursday.
Saddam Mohamed “Adam” Raishani was charged by Manhattan federal prosecutors with one count of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Raishani, 30, had spent months plotting alongside an undercover New York City police officer and an undercover FBI agent, who he believed was trying to help him get to Syria to join ISIS.
At one point, Raishani allegedly told the undercover cop that he would pose as a nurse if the officer posed as a refugee aid worker so that they could cross international borders without drawing suspicion according to the feds.
Law enforcement began closing in after Raishani revealed to the undercover FBI agent that he had arranged to meet an ISIS member in Turkey who would help him join the terrorist group in Syria, prosecutors said.
He was arrested late Wednesday while attempting to board a flight to Lisbon en route to Turkey, the feds said.
Raishani’s father, who appeared in court Thursday, told officials that his son was traveling to visit his sister in Yemen, sources said.
Raishani kept his alleged jihadi plans from his wife, whom he was planning to abandon, sources said.
Feds allege Raishani, a registered nurse since 2004, also helped a friend join ISIS by helping that person buy gear and driving the pal to the airport.
Raishani is being held without bail.