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How Twin Cities' 'Best' Somali Youth Ended Up Jihadis

Islamist sympathies take promising men from Minneapolis to Mogadishu

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 12, 2009 11:14 AM CDT
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(Newser) – For a group of young Americans, the path to an al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group in Somalia led through the Carlson School of Management in Minneapolis, where one planned to become a doctor; another, an entrepreneur. But now the students are at the center of what may be the most pressing domestic terror probe since 9/11, the New York Times reports. “This case is unlike anything we have encountered,” admits one FBI agent.

Most of the young men—whom one relative called “our best kids”—are Somali refugees whose families fled war-torn Somalia. Feeling alienated from their American peers, they returned to their native country to halt an Ethiopian incursion. But national security officials fear the men pose a special threat to the US because they’re armed with American passports. One jihadi, a friend recalled, refuted the claim. “Why would I do that?” he said. “My mom could be walking down the street.”

Al-Shabaab insurgents, seen, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday Dec. 27, 2008.
Al-Shabaab insurgents, seen, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday Dec. 27, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor)
An Islamic insurgent holds a surface to air missile launcher in this image taken from a video made available from an Islamic insurgent group in Somaila.
An Islamic insurgent holds a surface to air missile launcher in this image taken from a video made available from an Islamic insurgent group in Somaila.   (AP Photo/Mujaadinta Al shabaab, Via AP Television)
Burhan Hassan was one of many young Somali men who went missing from Minneapolis last year and according to his family was recruited by radical elements in Somalia.
Burhan Hassan was one of many young Somali men who went missing from Minneapolis last year and according to his family was recruited by radical elements in Somalia.   (AP Photo/Courtesy of Family)
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If American citizens are joining the Shabaab, the potential threat domestically is serious. They could be commissioned to come back, or they could do it on their own because they are aligned with al-Qaeda. - Ralph S. Boelter, FBI agent

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
luluzz
Jul 13, 2009 7:35 AM CDT
thumbs way up beastblaster.
luluzz
Jul 13, 2009 7:34 AM CDT
If they lived in the US and can come and go and enjoy our freedoms, then why did they go back. Should we just ignore them like we did the muslims who took so many pilot classes? At some point we have to be pro-active in these times of terrorists working within our own country.
luluzz
Jul 13, 2009 7:27 AM CDT
Reader6, do you have any idea how many returning soldiers went to Canada? They couldn't handle they way they were treated when they got home. But the ones who were unstable possibly turned to motorcycle clubs or crime. But the majority hid from society... either in Canada, or in the bush, or inside their own minds. I know so many vietnam vets personally, through friends and family and from doing interviews and feature stories... but have never met or heard of one who was the type you describe.

 
Somalia • terrorism • Minneapolis • FBI • jihad • Ethiopia • Islamist

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