US prosecutors say extradited Jamaican-born muslim cleric, Abdullah Faisal used his base in St. James to be one of the most prolific global recruiters for the dangerous Islamic militant groups, Isis and Al-Qaida.
An indictment filed in the New York Supreme Court says Faisal used his public profile to solicit several acts of violence and terror.
Faisal was born in Jamaica and has lived in several countries including Kenya.
He was extradited from Jamaica yesterday and is now in the custody of US law enforcement.
The indictment filed by US prosecutors contains a still image from one of Faisal’s online lectures.
The document notes that Faisal declared during the lecture – “the way forward is not the ballot, the way forward is the bullet.”
The indictment quotes a Police Chief in New York, James O’Neil as saying that Sheikh Faisal used his influence and direction to groom and inspire terrorists who’ve bombed trains, attempted to blow up airliners and attack Americans both in the US and abroad.
The Police Chief says Faisal’s arrest for his alleged efforts to recruit people for terror operations should bring an abrupt end to his global outreach in support of groups such as al-Qaida and ISIS.
According to the indictment, beginning in December 2016, Faisal’s activities were discovered when he communicated with an undercover NYPD officer based in New York.
The communication reportedly took place when Faisal was living in St. James in Jamaica.
According to the indictment, Faisal offered to help the undercover officer leave the U.S. and travel to the Middle East to support foreign fighters abroad.
Faisal then allegedly suggested that the undercover officer enter into a marriage with someone in the Islamic State to enable travel abroad, and offered to broker the arrangement.
Members of the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, along with the undercover officer, then traveled to the Middle East.
Upon their arrival, Faisal reportedly provided the undercover officer with contact information for an individual based in Raqqa, Syria.
The indictment says in early 2017, Faisal’s Syrian associate contacted the undercover officer and sought to facilitate the officer’s entry into the Islamic State.
Faisal is to face the US justice system in the coming weeks.
He’s accused of five counts of soliciting or providing support for an Act of Terrorism in the First Degree which is a Class B violent felony.
He’s also charged with conspiracy to commit terror-related violent crimes.
His extradition from Jamaica is being reported on today by several US media outlets including the Washington Post.
The Washington Post says Faisal is ranked by international terrorism experts as one of the most influential extremist Muslim preachers who use the English language to instigate violence.
