LAWRENCEVILLE, New Jersey – Federal prosecutors in New York announced on Friday that Karrem Nasr, a 23-year-old man from New Jersey, was arrested in Kenya earlier this month and brought back to the U.S. to face charges of attempting to provide material support to al-Shabab, the Somalia-based terror group affiliated with al-Qaida.
According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Nasr was motivated by the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and had expressed a desire to join and train with al Shabab to execute his jihadist mission. Nasr, who moved to New Jersey from Egypt in July, was prepared to kill and be killed to support the jihadist cause, and had described America as ‘evil’ and the ‘head of the snake.’
Nasr’s communications with a confidential FBI source and his online postings show his long-standing desire to engage in jihad, particularly in response to the Hamas attack. In his recent social media posts, Nasr warned of jihad coming soon to a U.S. location and posted threatening images. He flew from Egypt to Kenya on Dec. 14 and had planned to transit into Somalia before being taken into custody by Kenyan authorities.
The Department of Justice has charged Nasr with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which could result in a maximum of 20 years in prison. Nasr is expected to appear before a federal magistrate in Manhattan federal court.
In conclusion, Karrem Nasr, a New Jersey resident with ties to Egypt, has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terror group, following his expressed desire to join and train with the group in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel. The case raises concerns about the influence of international conflicts on individuals residing in the U.S., and the potential threat of homegrown terrorism in the country.