FBI Says It Busted ISIS’s Graphic Designer in Houston

A Houston antheral the FBI arrested this period and charged with providing worldly enactment to ISIS allegedly created a portfolio of online propaganda for the violent radical and researched however to physique an explosive belt, according to caller tribunal filings.

Anas Said was arrested connected November 8 aft a years-long probe during which the FBI interviewed him aggregate times, executed a hunt warrant connected his location and devices, and received accusation from Meta that allegedly showed helium was down 11 Facebook accounts that posted pro-ISIS material. According to a motion prosecutors precocious filed successful the case, which was archetypal reported by Court Watch and 404 Media, the 28-year-old “repeatedly expressed his tendency to question overseas to combat for ISIS” and “has spent clip readying and discussing the committee of convulsive attacks helium desires to perpetrate, including successful the Houston area.”

© FBI

Agents had been tracking Said since 2017 aft helium allegedly placed an bid for stickers with pro-ISIS symbols and phrases. They interviewed him astatine slightest 5 times betwixt January 2018 and March 2019, erstwhile helium claimed helium nary longer consumed ISIS propaganda and “only utilized the net for schoolwork and watching sports,” according to the motion.

But aft receiving accusation from Meta successful October 2023 astir Said’s alleged Facebook activity, the FBI obtained hunt warrants and seized his physics devices, connected which investigators allegedly recovered encrypted messages documenting his propaganda enactment connected behalf of ISIS. Among the messages, the FBI allegedly uncovered communications betwixt Said and a idiosyncratic claiming to beryllium the “number 2” decorator for ISIS who provided Said feedback connected his propaganda images and videos.

After his arrest, Said allegedly “readily admitted” to the FBI that helium created ISIS propaganda and said that helium had considered purchasing a weapon and sidesplitting U.S. subject personnel.

In their question requesting pre-trial detention, prosecutors argued that Said and his household told investigators connected aggregate occasions that they would instrumentality to Lebanon, wherever they had antecedently lived if they were allowed. Members of Said’s family, who had antecedently reported his behaviour to authorities, besides allegedly told the FBI that they were disquieted astir his pro-ISIS beliefs and convulsive behavior.

Said allegedly had online conversations with an undercover FBI worker successful which helium discussed antithetic methods for traveling to the Middle East and joining ISIS.

At different times, helium allegedly discussed attacking adjacent subject recruiting centers with the undercover cause and said that ISIS “brothers” had attempted to participate Texas to termination erstwhile president George W. Bush.

© FBI