Man Arrested At Chicago Airport For Supporting Terrorist Organization

A Colorado man who said he was going to go overseas to support a terrorist organization is facing up to 15 years in jail and a $250,000 fine after being arrested at a Chicago airport.

FOX News Radio’s Courtney Kealy has details:

The suspect, known as Abu Mumin and originally a refugee from Uzbekistan, and now a resident of Aurora, Colorado, was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces.  He’s charged with providing material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based terrorist organization, according to the Department of Justice.

He was not planning on carrying out any attacks in the U.S., but had pledged allegiance to the group, which has conducted attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan and attacks in Uzbekistan.

Courtney Kealy, FOX News Radio.

Read more from the Justice Department’s release on the arrest below:

Jamshid Muhtorov, aka Abumumin Turkistony, aka Abu Mumin, 35, of Aurora, Colo., was arrested Saturday afternoon at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Department of Justice announced today. The arrest took place without incident. Muhtorov made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Chicago this morning.

Muhtorov’s arrest is the result of a long-term investigation conducted by the FBI’s Denver Joint Terrorism Task Force. The Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Force provided investigative support.

The defendant is a refugee from Uzbekistan. According to the criminal complaint, which was obtained in Denver and initially filed under seal, Muhtorov indicated that he planned to travel overseas where he intended to fight on behalf of the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The IJU, a Pakistan-based extremist group, adheres to an anti-western ideology, opposes secular rule in Uzbekistan and seeks to replace the current regime with a government based on Islamic law. In addition to conducting suicide attacks in Uzbekistan, the IJU has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan.    

Muhtorov allegedly has sworn allegiance to the IJU, stating he was ready for any task, even with the risk of dying. The alleged activities of Muhtorov highlight the continued interest of extremists residing in the United States to join and support overseas terrorists.         

The government does not allege that Muhtorov was plotting attacks against any targets inside the United States.