LAWRENCEVILLE, New Jersey – Karrem Nasr, a 23-year-old man from New Jersey, has been arrested in Kenya and returned to the United States to face charges of attempting to provide material support to al-Shabab, a Somalia-based terror group affiliated with al-Qaida. According to federal prosecutors in New York, Nasr was motivated by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and sought to join a foreign terror group in order to wage violent jihad against America and its allies.
Nasr, who had moved to New Jersey from Egypt, expressed a desire to join al-Shabab during communications with someone he thought was an al-Shabab facilitator, but who turned out to be a confidential FBI source. He also posted warnings on social media about impending “Jihad” coming soon to the US, using airplane, bomb, and fire emojis.
Federal officials revealed that Nasr flew from Egypt to Kenya on December 14 with plans to transit into Somalia before being taken into custody by Kenyan authorities. He is now facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that Nasr was prepared to kill and be killed to support the jihadist cause and described America as ‘evil’ and the ‘head of the snake.’ Nasr’s case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to prevent potential acts of terrorism and underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism. The arrest and prosecution of individuals like Nasr serve as a reminder of the continuous threat posed by homegrown extremism and the need for vigilance in addressing radicalization.