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Thursday, April 18, 2024 | Back issues
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Ohioan Accused of Supporting ISIL on Tumblr

(CN) - An Ohio man was arrested Thursday and charged with calling for the murder of U.S. military personnel online, the Justice Department said.

Terrence McNeil is accused of using social media blogging website Tumblr account to show his support for the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, or ISIL, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.

An affidavit from Shawn Hare, a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, says McNeil used a Tumblr account with the name "Abu-fil" to post statements like, "No American citizen is safe....they are all valid targets," and, "One day soon I will be with my brothers on the frontline."

On Sept. 24 of this year, McNeil "reblogged" an animated image file that called for killings and looped purported photographs of U.S. military personnel, along with their names and addresses, according to the federal government.

He was charged with one count of solicitation of a crime of violence.

McNeil, 25, also allegedly posted on Facebook last year, "I can't wait for another 9/11, Boston bombing, or Sandy Hook!!!"

The Akron, Ohio, citizen has no criminal record, according to the government's 33-page complaint.

Northern Ohio U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach commended the arrest, which came the day after Veterans Day.

"As this nation honors our veterans, we must make clear that we will not tolerate threats of violence against our service members," Dettelbach said in a statement.

ISIL is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.

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