‘It’s important to get these guys’
Counterterrorism expert lauds arrest of man accused of trying to join ISIS
WEST HAVEN — A city man charged by the FBI Sunday with attempting to provide material support to Iraq and ISIS was “way behind the curve,” as ISIS is practically wiped out, but such arrests are important to show a threat by extremists still exists, said Ken Gray, a retired FBI counterterrorism expert and lecturer in the University of New Haven’s criminal justice department.
“It’s important to get these guys. Not only are they a threat over there,” but a threat on US. soil, Gray said, noting the danger presented by “lone wolf ” attacks.
He said during the time ISIS was controlling parts of Syria and Iraq, about 300 people from the United States went to fight. Some were killed, some stayed and a few returned — and “the returnees are the real potential threats.”
Ahmad Khalil Elshazly, 22, was arrested after a lengthy investigation in Stonington, boarding a fishing boat whose “captain” actually was an FBI agent. According to the Department of Justice, Elshazly decided to go to Turkey via boat to elude airport security, but Gray said he likely wouldn’t have gotten by that security, either, and likely wouldn’t have found ISIS even if he did.
Elshazly is being detained and is scheduled for a bond hearing Friday and a probable cause hearing Dec. 30.
“He was trying to get there after the party is over,” Gray said. “He should have traveled two years ago . ... It’s (ISIS) all but wiped out,” he said
Elshazly, who sources said holds a state card to be a security guard, lived on a quiet street of nicely kept homes. There was no answer Tuesday at the big, white house on Brower Street where he lived, but there were several cars in the driveway.
A neighbor who didn’t want to identify herself said she saw Elshazly walking a lot, but didn’t know him and had no idea of the trouble until law enforcement swarmed the house.
Roman Khondker, a West Haven resident who is a Muslim and a member of the state’s Commission on Equity and Opportunity, said Islam is a “peaceful” religion and if Elshazly worshipped at an area mosque, he likely had a lot of conflicts within that community.
“No matter what religion, people can get radicalized and it’s dangerous. In America, our main ideology is freedom,” said Khondker, who along with his mother escaped political persecution to come to the U.S. “People have the stigma of Muslims being evil, but it’s a religion of peace.”
Khondker, 20, said it’s “hurtful” to see Muslims “who have it good to turn their back on this country.”
It is alleged in the criminal complaint that, beginning in approximately September 2018, Elshazly, a U.S. citizen, made numerous statements to others, both in person and through online messaging applications, expressing a desire to travel to Syria and the surrounding area to fight on behalf of ISIS.
The complaint alleges that in February 2019, Elshazly stated that he had saved approximately $1,000 with the intention of using the money to travel to Jordan to transit to Syria to be with ISIS.
In October 2019, during a meeting with other individuals, Elshazly made numerous statements supporting ISIS, including, “…they say, War has started and we are marching to it ... but all doors are closed, closed. I am talking to myself now, asking myself, How do I get there? How can I help Muslims? How can I do anything?” He further is said to have stated, “God willing! May this country [United States] burn the same way they burned Muslims! May they burn in fire at the end!” the complaint states.
Elshazly made the statements in a public venue and when he was asked to lower his voice when talking loudly, Elshazly proclaimed, “I am not scared,” the complaint states.
During the same meeting, it is alleged that Elshazly said, “I want to go to the caliphate and fight there. I can kill maybe … like a hundred . ... I can kill them. A hundred ... if I do something here how many ... could I kill? One, two, three and then I get shot and I die. It is more benefitting if I go there, I could kill more and will get more faithful rewards.”
In December 2019, Elshazly sent another individual a series of YouTube videos explaining how various highpowered firearms and other weaponry work, the criminal complaint states.
It is alleged that, because he was concerned about being stopped by law enforcement at an airport, Elshazly arranged to travel by ship to Turkey. Elshazly provided another individual with $500 that Elshazly believed would be used to pay for a portion of his trip. On December 15, 2019, Elshazly was arrested after he arrived in Stonington, expecting to board a boat to begin his trip.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to targeting and stopping those who wish to cause mayhem, both in the U.S. and abroad, before they are successful,” U.S. Attorney John H. Durham said in a press release. “I thank the FBI’s JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force ) and all the agencies involved in the lengthy investigation that culminated in yesterday’s arrest. Their work has saved lives.”
The charge of conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Elshazly told sources his plan was to travel to Syria by way of Saudi Arabia and use the ruse of making the Hajj pilgrimage, but instead make his way into ISIScontrolled territory, the complaint states.
He told investigators he was going to put his whole life on the line and sacrifice everything “for the sake of Allah, " the complaint states.