Mohammed Hamzah Khan a 19- year old American from Bolingbrook, Illinois was apprehended at the O'Hare International Airport by the FBI's Chicago Join Terrorism Task Force on Saturday, the teenager's initial move to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria.
Khan, who was staying with his parents in a Chicago suburb attempted to board a plane flying from Chicago going to Istanbul, Turkey. A return ticket was purchased for him on Sept.26 as he planned to travel from Saturday and then return on Thursday. He is charged with attempt to assist material support to ISIS. And once proven guilty, Khan could face up to 15-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.
The moment he passed the crossed security at the airport, federal agents interrogated him and issued an arrest warrant to his home. The authorities found a notebook indicating a sketch of an ISIS fighter with words written "Come to Jihad." Black ISIS flag drawings and maps were also seen, the U.S. attorney's office declared.
The teen faced his initial trial before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Cox of Chicago on Monday. He would remain in the federal custody until Thursday morning for the next hearing. During the interrogation on Monday, the teen revealed his plan to escape from Turkey, then sliding to Iraq or Syria.
Based on his affidavit, Khan had left a three-page handwritten letter to his parents warning not to contact the authorities about his plan of going to Syria. He also expressed his contempt over the western societies which he said is going immoral day by day. He also mentioned his madness over tax dollars being used to execute his Muslim brothers and sisters, the prosecutors said.
FBI says that Khan has confirmed contacting someone online, who settled the plan for him in meeting an ISIS representative once he arrived in Istanbul. Based on his affidavit, the teen admitted that he is doing some kind of public service or voluntarily assuming a combat role for the Muslim community.
