It was good of the feds to pause for a few moments from hunting for “white supremacist terrorists” and Jan. 6 “insurrectionists” to take the time to track and catch this fellow. But will he now decide to wage jihad right here at home?
“Federal authorities arrest Westminster man, 18, who allegedly tried to join ISIS,” by Sydney Isenberg, ABC Denver 7, December 19, 2023:
WESTMINSTER, Colo. — A Westminster 18-year-old who allegedly planned to join the Islamic State (ISIS) was arrested at the Denver International Airport Monday before boarding an international flight, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court of Colorado.
Humzah Mashkoor, 18, of Westminster is accused of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He made his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
According to court documents, Mashkoor landed on law enforcement’s radar in November 2021 after he posted his support for ISIS on social media. He also used his social media to communicate with other ISIS supporters, the complaint states.
In September 2022, Mashkoor began communicating with an FBI agent who was posing as a fellow ISIS supporter. Over the course of a year, he spoke with four agents who were all acting as ISIS supporters. To avoid detection, the young man used coded phrases and multiple social media accounts and also changed his usernames, the complaint states.
Mashkoor told one of the agents he was born in the United States and returned to Afghanistan for a few years “before his family was forced to leave Afghanistan.” He later became interested in joining ISIS, according to court documents.
Between September 2022 and December 2023, the complaint states Mashkoor shared his intent to join ISIS as a fighter, provide money to the organization and recruit other supporters. He also “expressed frustration” that he was unable to travel to join ISIS or provide money because he wasn’t yet 18 years old, according to court documents.
In early June 2023, Mashkoor “discussed a desire to get married, find a job, and complete his schooling,” court documents state. However, he was worried “about the possibility of abandoning her in Afghanistan “after [he’s] martyred or something else.”” The next month, the young man told one of the undercover agents he was no longer pursuing his GED and was focused on traveling abroad to be with ISIS.
As his 18th birthday approached in November 2023, Mashkoor began “making more concrete plans to travel abroad to join ISIS,” the complaint reads. Around Nov. 25, he bought a flight from Denver to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with connections through New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport) and Kuwait. While in the UAE, the young man planned to get a visa to enter Afghanistan….
Mashkoor and the relative arrived at the Denver International Airport around 8:33 a.m. on Dec. 18. After checking bags, the two proceeded to the TSA security area. Mashkoor passed through security and was taken into custody before reaching the train to the gates.
The same day, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Mashkoor’s Westminster home. According to court documents, authorities found journal entries that included drawings of the ISIS flag and a note explaining his plan to join the organization. Some of the journal entries, according to court documents, included:
“I fell in love with their (ISIS) steadfastness in the face of such animosity.”
“From then on I decided I wanted to be like them. Leaving behind the hypocritical life of humiliation to migrate to the lands of jihad.”
“So once again I state, that I have NO regrets about this blessed path decorated with thorns. And I hope to be granted one of two things. Victory over my enemies, or martyrdom.”
The complaint states Mashkoor ended his journal by saying, “I will never forget all that you’ve done for me and I’m sorry for how I treated you. Goodbye.”
This is the second young Coloradan to be arrested this year for their alleged connection to ISIS. Davin Daniel Meyer, 18, of Castle Rock was charged with terrorism-related crimes in July after attempting to board an international flight to join ISIS and serve as one of its fighters in Iraq.
PMK says
Why not just change US law? Let those who want to experience jihad go ahead and join ISIS, so long as they accept the consequence of this decision: permanent exile from the US. They are embarking on a one-way trip and there is no coming home again. If they later regret their decision, that’s too bad. The US is no longer their home.
somehistory says
Colorado seems to be infested.
Keith O says
It’s the high altitude, it messes with the ability to think straight.
somehistory says
High alt, high concentration of weed, and a mozlum devoted to terror. Bad mix.
Keith O says
Good choof, when used correctly, is actually quite beneficial for a number of conditions including severe pain from service related injuries and PTSD, or so I have been told:)
somehistory says
That may be true….one of my brothers who was dying of cancer and was in severe pain, was asked if he wanted to try it and he said no. So the doctor asked our mom about it, she said okay and it was given to him anyway without telling him. It didn’t work for him.
A recent study says that the more potent, the more likely brain problems and other things unwanted will happen.
I’ve never tried it, just as I’ve never gotten drunk. And don’t intend to. It may work for some people who are in pain; or it could be a placebo effect because they expect it to.
But, we know how islam works.