Bangladeshi in US charged with giving material support to ISIS

Nelash Mohamed Das is currently resident of Hyattsville in Maryland. On conviction he faces 20 years in prison

Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Press Trust of India Washington
Last Updated : Oct 04 2016 | 8:22 AM IST
A 24-year-old Bangladeshi national in the US has been charged with providing material support to the Islamic State militant group in connection with a plot to kill American service members, the US.

Nelash Mohamed Das is currently resident of Hyattsville in Maryland. On conviction he faces 20 years in prison.

"Nelash Mohamed Das is alleged to have plotted to kill a US service member on behalf of ISIL," said Assistant Attorney General John P Carlin.

"Individuals intent on carrying out violence in the name of foreign terrorist organisations pose one of the most concerning threats that law enforcement faces today and stopping these offenders before they are able to act is our highest priority," Carlin said in a statement.

Das, who has permanent residency status, had an initial appearance at a US District Court in Maryland.

The court has ordered Das to be detained pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for October 6.

The affidavit alleges that from September 28, 2015 to early 2016, Das used social media to express his support for Islamic State militant group, including support for terrorist attacks in Paris, France, and San Bernardino, California.

On October 26, 2015, Das tweeted the name of an individual and the city where they lived, stating that the individual "aspires to kill Muslims".

Das knew that the individual hoped to become a member of the US military.

The Islamic State members and supporters have posted identifying information about US military personnel in hopes that those inspired by the Islamic State would carry out attacks against them.

The affidavit alleges that Das was advertising the individual's identity and whereabouts in order to inspire violence against that individual.

On January 30, 2016, Das tweeted a picture of an AK-47 assault rifle along with the text, "This is more than just a gun. This is a ticket to Jannah (paradise)."

According to the affidavit, on April 30, this year Das attended the Handgun Qualification License class at a firing range in Maryland.

After the class, Das told another individual that he wanted to buy a Glock 9mm handgun and an AK-47.

Over the next five months, Das returned to the firing range to practice firing weapons, and submitted his fingerprints to obtain a handgun permit.

During May 2016, Das met a confidential human source (CHS) working for the FBI.

On July 23, Das told the CHS that he wanted to kill a particular military member who lived in Prince George's County, Maryland, and whose identifying information Das had obtained the prior year from a list posted online by ISIL.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Oct 04 2016 | 1:48 AM IST

Next Story