Two Accused ISIS Recruits See San Diego Judge

Two of six Minnesotans allegedly bent on recruiting for, and joining, ISIS in the Middle East appeared at an initial hearing Monday in San Diego.

21-year-olds Abdirahmna Yasin Daud and Mohamed Abdihamid Farah did not speak at Monday’s federal court hearing in San Diego. Each is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, specifically ISIL (ISIS), and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Officials have relayed that a group of at least 15 has been under surveillance for suspicion of attempting to recruit for and join the terror organization. When one member of the group chose to leave and become an informant, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation was able to gather additional intelligence leading to the six Sunday arrests.

The two men apprehended in San Diego had traveled from Minnesota in order to obtain false travel documents and fly out of Mexico to Syria, according to authorities.

As Breitbart News previously reported, a Monday press conference emphasized that the group’s participants are highly dedicated individuals, not confused young men, but “intent on joining terror organization by any means possible.”

While some involved in what has been termed peer-to-peer recruiting have been stopped in the process of attempting to leave the U.S. to join ISIS, others have been successful. One of those who now serves ISIS/ISIL overseas is actively recruiting more dedicated supporters.

Both Daud and Farah were ordered detained on the basis of their danger to the community and risk of flight. A follow-up hearing for each is set for Friday morning, where additional details will be required to retain the two in custody while their trials precede. The defendants will likely face the option of continuing proceedings in San Diego or being transported back to Minnesota.

Provisional counsel was appointed to each defendant at the hearing. Prosecutors appearing at Monday’s hearing in San Diego were Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Han and Minnesota Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Kovats.

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