A Minneapolis man has found himself behind bars, facing allegations of attempting to support the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick announced the arrest, specifying that the individual, Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, made not one but two failed attempts to travel from Minnesota to Somalia to join the ranks of ISIS in December 2024. Hassan's reasons for travel were called into question as officials noted his claimed family visit was unsupported by the presence of any actual relatives in Somalia. The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that Hassan owned personal identification documents such as his birth certificate and high school diploma at the time of his attempts.
In the course of their investigation, the FBI uncovered Hassan's explicit support for ISIS through multiple social media posts. According to the criminal complaint, he communicated with the Manjaniq Media Center's Facebook account - an entity that promotes ISIS propaganda and recruitment. Moreover, a disturbing praise was laid out for Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an individual who perpetrated a terrorist attack in New Orleans on January 1, 2025, in an ISIS-inspired incident. Hassan's brazenness did not stop at social media endorsement, as he posted videos of himself on February 21, holding what appeared to be a minor ISIS flag while driving. Another such video featured him behind the wheel with a knife on display - a clear attempt at intimidation or showcasing solidarity with the terrorist group's violent methods.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kirkpatrick did not mince words stating, "Those who support foreign terrorist organizations in our homeland—like Hassan—are a clear and present threat to our national security. They will be held to account." This sentiment was echoed by Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis, who emphasized the FBI's commitment to aggressively employing their authority against those aiding foreign terrorist outfits.
Hassan is currently detained and was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung in U.S. District Court. Facing charges for one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, he's slated to remain in custody until a formal detention hearing set for Wednesday, March 5, 2025. His legal fate will be further discussed in a St. Paul courtroom, before Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko. The case is the collective investigative effort of the FBI and the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force and is being prosecuted by a team including Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar and National Security Division Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorneys Ryan White and Charles Kovats, Jr.
It is critical to remember, as has been emphasized by the Department of Justice, that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation. Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, like any defendant in our legal system, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
