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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
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California Men Arrested for Trying to Join ISIL

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CN) - Authorities have arrested two Orange County men on charges of conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), prosecutors said Friday.

FBI agents arrested Muhanad Badawi, 24, and Nader Elhuzayel, 24, of Anaheim on Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Elhuzayel was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after Badawi let him use his credit card to buy a one-way ticket to Tel Aviv, Israel, with a stopover in Turkey, according to prosecutors.

Elhuzayel allegedly told authorities he planned to cut his journey short, disembark at Istanbul and join ISIL, an affidavit said.

Badawi said he would travel to the Middle East on a future date, according to the affidavit.

Earlier this month, Elhuzayel expressed his admiration for gunman Elton Simpson who was shot and killed after opening fire on officers at a Garland, Texas conference that had featured cartoon images of Muhammad, prosecutors said

Elhuzayel praised the gunman as a "martyr" in a post on Twitter, according to the Justice Department.

Badawi and Elhuzayel were recorded talking about their wish to die "for the cause of Allah," and discussed what would happen if Al Qaeda joined forces with ISIL, the affidavit said.

"We will be huge," Badawi allegedly said.

Authorities charged Badawi and Elhuzayel in a criminal complaint of knowingly conspiring to provide material support and resources as personnel to ISIL.

The two men are expected to make an initial court appearance this afternoon in Santa Ana, according to LA U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek.

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