Justice Dept. Arrests Potential New Orleans ‘Copycat’ Terrorist Suspect

Federal prosecutors have formally accused a man from Minneapolis of trying to join ISIS, saying he was motivated by the deadly New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans.

In a press statement released on Friday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced terrorism-related charges against Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, alleging that he attempted to travel to Somalia last December with plans to join ISIS and become a fighter.

According to the DOJ, Hassan had “praised” Shamsud-Din Jabbar—an ISIS supporter—after Jabbar carried out the January 1 attack that resulted in 15 deaths. This reinforced previous concerns that the massacre could spark additional attacks by extremists, as reported by the Daily Caller.

“On Feb. 21, Hassan also posted a video of himself driving while holding a small ISIS flag inside the vehicle, as well as another video of himself driving with an open knife on his lap,” the DOJ stated after reviewing Hassan’s online activity. “On Feb. 26, the FBI observed Hassan driving while again holding the ISIS flag.”

Jabbar’s method mirrored this behavior—he drove a vehicle with the extremist group’s flag inside and rammed into a crowd, before being fatally shot by police.

The DOJ further claims Hassan attempted to leave the country but was unable to do so, even though he had his naturalization certificate with him—proof that he was originally born outside the U.S. and later became a citizen. The DOJ has not revealed what exactly prevented him from traveling.

Hassan now faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a federal crime that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

In January, both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued a public advisory warning about “possible copycat or retaliatory attacks” following the New Year’s Day violence, pointing to the ongoing “appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers.”

They urged “that the public remain vigilant.”

Officials say the New Year’s Day incident, along with the December ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces, have heightened fears of a resurgence in ISIS activity. A federal inspector general’s report concluded that ISIS exploited the instability in Syria to seize weapons and supplies abandoned by fleeing regime forces.

In a separate case, the DOJ also filed charges on Wednesday against a man from Tajikistan, accusing him of sending money to the terrorist group, according to The Daily Caller.

In addition to these developments, Americans were warned in a security bulletin to remain alert for potential copycat vehicle attacks targeting “crowded public venues, including festivals and commercial centers,” as outlined in a joint memo titled “Threat of Copycat Attacks after ISIS-Inspired Vehicle Attack in New Orleans.”

However, the agencies clarified that they did not have any specific or immediate threat to monitor at the time. They also acknowledged uncertainty about whether the warning stemmed from any newly uncovered plot.

“Due to the highly personal nature of radicalization to violence and mobilization to violence, it can be difficult to assess specific characteristics indicating the intent of US-based violent extremists to conduct violence,” the memo explained.

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are issuing this Public Service Announcement to highlight a potential public safety threat from violent extremists in response to the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, Louisiana. As with any potential threats to the United States, we will coordinate with our state and local law enforcement partners to ensure they have the resources and information necessary to keep our communities safe,” the memo stated.

“The FBI and DHS are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers. Previous attackers inspired by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) who have conducted vehicle attacks in the United States and abroad have used rented, stolen, and personally owned vehicles, which are easy to acquire. Some have used additional weapons, such as firearms and knives, to attack individuals after the vehicle has stopped,” the memo added.