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A Texas man is in FBI custody after allegedly planning a terrorist attack for ISIS from his Houston apartment, Fox News Digital reports.
Authorities say Anas Said, 28, sought ways to carry out violent acts for ISIS in the area. He was charged with attempting to support the terrorist group and was arrested last week at his apartment complex, according to FBI Special Agent Douglas Williams.
While in custody, Said admitted to researching attacks on local military recruiting centers, offering his home as an ISIS sanctuary, boasting of plans for a “9/11-style” attack if possible, and attempting to produce ISIS propaganda, according to Williams. A detention hearing is set for Thursday afternoon in Houston federal court.
“We stopped a potential terrorist attack from happening right here in Houston! Any day we can publicly say that is a good day,” FBI Houston said.
#BREAKING FBI Houston SAC Douglas Williams announces the arrest of 28-year-old Anas Said. He is accused of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, and, by his own admission, planning a #terrorist attack on U.S. soil – all from his apartment in far west Houston. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/o8TnNwRkLn
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) November 14, 2024
Investigators with #FBI Houston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) learned that Said was searching for ways to commit violent acts on behalf of ISIS, right here in our Houston area. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/flr54d8OJv
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) November 14, 2024
The FBI has monitored Said since a 2017 tip revealed he had purchased two stickers: one showing the Dome of the Rock with an ISIS flag overlay and another with an armed figure captioned “Winning the Islamic Nation.” The FBI interviewed Said four times in 2018 regarding these purchases.
In a January 2018 interview, Said admitted the stickers were intended to show support for ISIS, though he denied supporting violence for the group at that time, per a detention memo. Said began following ISIS ideology in 2015 after his family returned from Lebanon. In a 2019 interview, he claimed to have stopped consuming radical propaganda, using the internet only for schoolwork and sports.
The DOJ denies this, claiming: “On or about October 18, 2023, pursuant legal process, FBI received information from Meta Platforms, Inc. (‘Meta’) regarding 11 Facebook accounts used by the Defendant that showed he continued to support ISIS and the violent attacks carried out in its name.”
Family members shared concerns with the FBI, and analysis of Said’s devices reportedly uncovered encrypted messages showing efforts to create and spread ISIS propaganda, supporting the material support charge. Said allegedly resisted FBI agents executing a search warrant last Friday, smashing his cellphone before being taken into custody.
Anas Said admitted to:
– Researching how to conduct an attack on local military recruiting centers– Offering his home as safe sanctuary to ISIS operatives
– Bragging he would commit a “9/11-style” attack if he had the resources
– Attempting to produce ISIS propaganda #HouNews
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) November 14, 2024
Anas Said was arrested last week at the apartment complex where he lived.
We stopped a potential terrorist attack from happening right here in Houston! Any day we can publicly say that is a good day. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/9QUkhu20JM
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) November 14, 2024
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