The Justice Department announced a major arrest of a dual United States-Albanian citizen who is accused of trying to provide material support to the terrorist group, ISIS.
This development comes amid concerns about potential terrorist activity on American soil.
Erald Alimehmeti, 33, was arrested in New York on Thursday for attempting to distribute instructions on how to make explosives for ISIS operatives, according to a DOJ press release.
He lived in the Bronx before moving to Albania in 2014, where he ran afoul of the law on multiple occasions. “Alimehmeti was arrested by Albanian authorities and imprisoned in late 2015 to 2019 and again from late 2020 to 2022 for weapons and assault offenses,” the Justice Department explained.
Alimehmeti used encrypted messaging platforms and social media to help coordinate attacks, recruit more operatives, and obtain equipment for the terrorist organization. He referenced “DC sniper-style” attacks and showed a propensity for tactical gear and firearms.
“Do you know sniping akhi? The formulas and ballistics?” Alimehmeti wrote while interacting with confidential sources:
Alimehmeti also requested what he described as ‘tactical’ equipment and ‘gear’ for ‘training’ and ‘operations’ in support of ISIS, including particular models of vests capable of holding ‘ballistic plates,’ ‘magazine pouches,’ and “knives.”
The suspect regularly posted ISIS propaganda on social media, praising the organization’s leaders and sharing videos and publications, according to the DOJ press release:
Alimehmeti’s social media posts included praise of the ISIS propagandist Shaykh ul-Haqq Musa Cerantonio and the Libyan terrorist and high-ranking al Qaeda official Abu Yahya al-Libi.
On an encrypted messaging channel, Alimehmeti posted dozens of links and downloadable documents on topics such as explosives-making, firearms-handling, defensive tactics, and outdoor survival, with comments encouraging the use of these resources.
Alimehmeti is facing two federal charges: Attempting to provide material support to ISIS and distributing information on explosives for violent crimes. Each of these charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
This development comes just after the FBI arrested Anas Said, a 28-year-old Houston resident also accused of attempting to provide material support to ISIS and planning terrorist attacks on American soil. Said admitted to researching ways to carry out attacks and offering his apartment as a base of operations for ISIS terrorists. He even boasted about his willingness to carry out a “9/11-style” attack.
There have been increased concerns about the possibility of an ISIS-K attack on American soil, especially after the organization’s involvement in the deadly, March 22 massacre at a Moscow concert hall. Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie cautioned that the organization has a “strong desire” to kill Americans in the U.S. and Europe and noted that an attack is “inevitable” in light of the group’s growing presence in the U.S.
