CHICAGO – A man who was trying to leave the country to join a terrorist group operating in Iraq and Syria was arrested Saturday by federal agents, officials said.
The defendant, Mohammed Hamzah Khan, 19, a U.S. citizen, was charged with attempting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS.
Khan was taken into custody without incident at O’Hare International Airport by members of the Chicago FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force before he attempted to fly to Vienna, Austria, on his way to Istanbul, Turkey, according to officials.
Authorities said Khan was charged in a criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court with one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
According to the complaint affidavit, a roundtrip ticket was purchased for Khan on Sept. 26 to travel from Chicago to Istanbul, departing on Saturday, and returning later this week.
Law enforcement agents observed Khan passing through the security screening checkpoint Saturday afternoon at O’Hare’s international terminal, officials said.
Federal agents then executed a search warrant at Khan’s residence and recovered multiple handwritten documents that appeared to be drafted by Khan or others, which expressed support for ISIL, the affidavit alleges.
Some of those documents, including travel plans and materials referencing ISIL and jihad, are described in the complaint affidavit.
Attempting to provide support to a terrorist organization carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, officials said.