FBI arrests Houston man for alleged ISIS ties and terrorist plot on US soil

A Texas man is in FBI custody Thursday after authorities say he tried to support ISIS and planned a terrorist attack on U.S. soil from his Houston apartment.

Authorities said Anas Said, 28, was looking for ways to commit violence in the name of the Islamic State in the Houston area. He was accused of attempting to provide material support to the terrorist group.

Said was arrested last week at the apartment complex where he lived, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams.

US FORCES STRIKE 9 IRAN-LINKED MILITIA TARGETS IN SYRIA: “OUR MESSAGE IS CLEAR”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Williams speaks to the media from the Houston Field Office, January 19. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Williams said that while in custody, Said admitted to studying how to carry out an attack on local military recruiting centers, offering his home as a sanctuary to ISIS members, boasting that he would carry out an attack “the way of September 11” if he had the resources. and attempt to produce propaganda for ISIS.

“We prevented a potential terrorist attack right here in Houston! Any day we can publicly say it's a good day,” FBI Houston said.

Said is in custody but appeared in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing, his lawyer, Balemar Zuniga, told Fox News Digital.

“The indictment alleges only that he supported a terrorist group through the production of videos and propaganda,” he said, noting that federal prosecutors have mentioned plotting terrorist acts but not did not charge him with such acts. “None of this is alleged.”

READ THE DOJ DETENTION MEMO PRESENTING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SAID APP USERS, CLICK HERE:

Said has been on the FBI's radar since the bureau received a tip in 2017 that he had purchased two stickers: “one containing an image of the Dome of the Rock2 with an ISIS flag covering the image, and another showing the white silhouette of a man holding a rifle with the caption “Win ​​the Islamic nation.”

“Does that seem a little excessive to you? Yes,” Zuniga said.

Said was questioned by the FBI four times in 2018 regarding sticker purchases.

“During an interview conducted on or about January 29, 2018, the defendant admitted that the two stickers were intended to show support for ISIS,” although he did not support killing in the name of ISIS at the time, according to a detention memo describing the allegations against Said. Said began supporting ISIS ideology in 2015 when his family returned to the United States from Lebanon.

Said was born in the United States and moved to Lebanon with his family when he was a child, Zuniga said. He returned to the United States in 2014.

Despite Said's alleged crimes, he has no negative feelings toward the United States, Zuniga said.

“I wouldn’t say that at all,” he said. “I think he's certainly passionate about protecting his Islamic religion. I don't think he has any particular animosity toward the United States itself.”

In a 2019 FBI interview, Said claimed “that he no longer consumed radical Islamic propaganda and only used the internet to do homework and watch sports,” according to the memo.

Department of Justice seals are seen during a news conference at the DOJ office in Washington, May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

This was not true, according to the DOJ.

“On or about October 18, 2023, pursuant to legal proceedings, the FBI received information from Meta Platforms, Inc. (“Meta”) regarding 11 Facebook accounts used by the defendant, which showed that he continued to support the Islamic State and the violent attacks carried out in the country in its name,” according to the DOJ.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

His family members “expressed concerns” in interviews with the FBI, and “subsequent analysis of the defendant's electronic devices revealed several encrypted messaging applications containing recordings of his efforts to create and distribute propaganda glorifying the continued violence of ISIS, the evidence underlying the material support offense charged.” in the indictment,” the ministry said.

Said allegedly refused to comply with FBI agents who executed a search warrant against him last Friday, and allegedly smashed his cell phone.

Chris Pandolfo is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital. Send tips to chris.pandolfo@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @ChrisCPandolfo.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.BizWebsite: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos