The FBI arrested a Brownsburg teen Tuesday for allegedly trying to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.
Agents arrested Akram Musleh, 18, when he was trying to board a bus from Indianapolis to New York, where he planned to fly out to Morocco and then on to ISIL-controlled territory. Investigators say Musleh planned to join the terrorist organization.
Spokesman Tim Horty of the U.S. Attorney's office says Musleh had an initial hearing in federal court Tuesday on a charge of providing material support to the Islamic State. Horty says Musleh is in the custody of federal marshals at an undisclosed location.
"The National Security Division's highest priority is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin said in a statement.
According to the criminal complaint, the FBI first investigated Musleh three years ago, after he posted videos to YouTube of Anwar al-Awlaki, a recruiter and leader for al Qaeda who was killed in 2011.
As a result of the videos, the FBI met with Musleh and Brownsburg High School officials in December 2013. At the time, Musleh told agents he used the videos to better understand the history of Islam. School officials and the FBI worked together to prevent Musleh from becoming radicalized.
Less than a year later, court documents claim the teen purchased an ISIL flag online and later posed for a picture with the flag in the background.
Police say Musleh also tried to get others to support the terrorist group. In April 2015, Brownsburg police say people at Williams Park were asking kids if they wanted to join the terrorist group. The FBI later determined Musleh was among them.
The same year, court documents say Musleh made five attempts to travel to Iraq or Turkey, but never completed the trip.
During one of his attempts to travel overseas on June 23, 2015, U.S. Customs and Border Protection interviewed Musleh. He told agents he was traveling to Istanbul to visit family and get married. The FBI says the teen has no family in Turkey and his alleged fiancé was an ISIL sympathizer from Sweden. While searching Musleh's bag, they found a journal containing quotes from several people associated with terrorist organizations, including Usama Bin Laden.
Court documents also point to searches Musleh made about explosive materials as probable cause for his arrest. While conducting surveillance on the teen in May, an FBI agent observed Musleh shopping for pressure cookers, which are often used in improvised explosive devices. Musleh ultimately left the store without making a purchase.
Authorities say Musleh also engaged in several conversations over social media about joining ISIL and possibly committing violent acts. He posted images online that the FBI says expressed support for the terrorist organization. The FBI obtained a warrant to search Musleh's phone on May 25 and found several files about jihad, martyrdom and ISIL.
Police arrested Musleh Tuesday as he was attempting to board a Greyhound bus in Indianapolis headed to New York.
Governor Mike Pence applauded the FBI's apprehension of the suspect.
"While every Hoosier should draw comfort from this successful effort by our law enforcement community, we must not lose sight of that fact that, in light of the most recent terrorist attacks in Orlando and San Bernardino, no community is immune from this new threat. In these challenging times, it is essential that all Hoosiers exercise vigilance and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate law enforcement authorities," Pence said in a statement. "In short, if you see something say something."
If convicted, Musleh faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Musleh's attorney, Michael Donahoe, said he has no comment on the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
See the complete criminal complaint below:
