A former California man who has long been on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist list has become the highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting with a terror group overseas, authorities announced this week. Jehad Serwan Mostafa, 37, has played a critical role as a leader of al-Shabaab, a brutal militia group that has used violence against the Somali government and was designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization more than a decade ago, according to a newly unsealed indictment. Advertisement Authorities believe Mostafa, who was raised and attended school in San Diego, lives in the African country of Somalia, but he could likely visit other African nations, including Kenya and Ethiopia. “We believe this defendant is the highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting overseas with a terrorist organization,” U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said in a news release Monday. “Al-Shabaab’s reign of terror threatens U.S. national security, our international allies and innocent civilians.” The FBI is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to an arrest. Most Read Bronx boy’s fatal collapse in school lunch line was a homicide caused by mother’s slashing months before, ME says Ex-Celtic Kevin Garnett: Kyrie Irving didn’t have the ‘cojones’ for Boston Dwyane Wade defends son’s appearance after family photo The agency said Mostafa joined al-Shabaab in 2006 and has served as a military instructor, a propagandist in the group’s media wing, an intermediary between al-Shabaab and other terror groups and a leader in its use of explosives in terrorist attacks, among other roles. Mostafa graduated from college in San Diego and then left the U.S. in late 2005 at the age of 23, according to the release. Authorities said he first traveled to Yemen before settling in Somalia, where he engaged in attacks against Ethiopian forces. He eventually joined al-Shabaab, which seeks to establish a society based on “its rigid interpretation” of Sharia law and has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda, federal prosecutors said. The group has claimed responsibility for multiple deadly attacks in recent years, mostly in East Africa. One of the most recent attacks targeted a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, where 16 people were killed in January. The federal indictment charges Mostafa with providing and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. If convicted on at least one of the charges, he could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. [More U.S. News] Colorado mother gets 24 years in prison for death of 2-year-old son who believed loaded weapon was squirt gun » Mostafa is also known as “Ahmed Gurey,” “Ahmed,” “Anwar,” “Abu Anwar al Muhajir,” and “Abu Abdallah al Muhajir,” authorities said. California man now highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting with terror group: FBI
California man now highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting with terror group: FBI
A former California man who has long been on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist list has become the highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting with a terror group overseas, authorities announced this week. Jehad Serwan Mostafa, 37, has played a critical role as a leader of al-Shabaab, a brutal militia group that has used violence against the Somali government and was designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization more than a decade ago, according to a newly unsealed indictment. Advertisement Authorities believe Mostafa, who was raised and attended school in San Diego, lives in the African country of Somalia, but he could likely visit other African nations, including Kenya and Ethiopia. “We believe this defendant is the highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting overseas with a terrorist organization,” U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said in a news release Monday. “Al-Shabaab’s reign of terror threatens U.S. national security, our international allies and innocent civilians.” The FBI is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to an arrest. Most Read Bronx boy’s fatal collapse in school lunch line was a homicide caused by mother’s slashing months before, ME says Ex-Celtic Kevin Garnett: Kyrie Irving didn’t have the ‘cojones’ for Boston Dwyane Wade defends son’s appearance after family photo The agency said Mostafa joined al-Shabaab in 2006 and has served as a military instructor, a propagandist in the group’s media wing, an intermediary between al-Shabaab and other terror groups and a leader in its use of explosives in terrorist attacks, among other roles. Mostafa graduated from college in San Diego and then left the U.S. in late 2005 at the age of 23, according to the release. Authorities said he first traveled to Yemen before settling in Somalia, where he engaged in attacks against Ethiopian forces. He eventually joined al-Shabaab, which seeks to establish a society based on “its rigid interpretation” of Sharia law and has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda, federal prosecutors said. The group has claimed responsibility for multiple deadly attacks in recent years, mostly in East Africa. One of the most recent attacks targeted a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, where 16 people were killed in January. The federal indictment charges Mostafa with providing and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. If convicted on at least one of the charges, he could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. [More U.S. News] Colorado mother gets 24 years in prison for death of 2-year-old son who believed loaded weapon was squirt gun » Mostafa is also known as “Ahmed Gurey,” “Ahmed,” “Anwar,” “Abu Anwar al Muhajir,” and “Abu Abdallah al Muhajir,” authorities said. California man now highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting with terror group: FBI
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