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Authorities make terror-related arrest in Houston
Authorities have made a "national-security related" arrest in Houston today, a U.S. Department of Justice spokeswoman confirmed to Eyewitness News.According to the local California newspaper, a second suspect was arrested in Sacramento and a third suspect was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All three suspects have ties to ISIS, according the Sacramento Bee. "There is no current threat to public safety associated with this arrest. More information will be released when the defendant makes his initial appearance tomorrow," Angela Dodge with the U.S. justice department said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued a statement referring to the situation as "the arrest of a terror suspect in Houston." "I applaud the thorough law enforcement investigation that resulted in this arrest," Patrick said. "Based on the facts, as we know them, today's action may have prevented a catastrophic terror related event in the making and saved countless lives. "This is exactly what we have repeatedly told the Obama administration could happen and why we do not want refugees coming to Texas. There are serious questions about who these people really are, as evidenced by today's events." Texas Gov. Greg Abbot also praised the FBI.
Hardan, 24, was charged with one count each of attempting to provide material support to ISIL (Islamic State), procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully and making false statements. Hardan, who lives in Houston, was granted legal permanent resident status in 2011, two years after entering the United States. According to the indictment, he provided training, expert advice and assistance to IS. He also lied on his formal application to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, saying he was not association with a terror group despite having been associated with IS members and sympathizers throughout 2014. During an October 2015 interview, Hardan is also said to have falsely claimed he had never received weapons training of any kind when he had in fact learned to use machine guns. He faces up to 53 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on all charges.
The suspects in Wisconsin are relatives of the man arrested in Sacramento, said Lauren Horwood, a spokeswoman for the US Attorney’s Office in Sacramento. The investigation in California led to the arrests in Wisconsin as part of a separate case not related to national security, she said. Posted by: Frank G 2016-01-08 |
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