MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The FBI in Minneapolis said Tuesday it is seeking the public’s help in tracking down anyone who may have left Minnesota to fight in Syria, and it is reaching out to the state’s large Somali population to try to stop the potential travels of youth who are most vulnerable to terror recruiting.
Authorities have indications that individuals have recently left Minnesota and traveled overseas, FBI spokesman Kyle Loven said. He did not elaborate or release an estimated number of people involved, citing the active investigation.
But he did say it’s likely some travelers made their way to Syria, or are headed there, and the FBI has concerns they are joining the fight against President Bashar Assad’s government. He said the travelers or potential travelers are believed to be Somali.
“We’re trying to figure out … the impetus for young men traveling overseas. How is this happening?” Loven said. “This is relatively recent, and so we’re still attempting to examine the entire situation.”
The FBI posted a public plea for information on its website Tuesday, asking those who know “anyone who is planning to and/or has traveled to a foreign country for armed combat or who is being recruited for such activities,” to contact the local office.
The move comes about a week after an American from Florida carried out a suicide bombing against Syrian government troops in the city of Idlib. Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha is believed to be the first U.S. citizen involved in a suicide bombing in Syria’s three-year civil war.
Loven said authorities are reaching out to Somali community leaders and activists, in hopes of identifying at-risk youth.
Since late 2007, at least 22 young men have left Minnesota to join the terrorist group al-Shabab in Somalia. Some of the men died there, some remain at large and others were prosecuted for their role in what the FBI said was one of the largest efforts to recruit U.S. fighters to a foreign terrorist organization. That investigation is still active.
Somali community activist Abdirizak Bihi said local Somalis have been talking about the Syrian conflict in recent days, and is worried a radical element is trying to create a new pipeline of violence.
“We are very concerned about this summer,” Bihi said. “People are shocked. They used to talk about kids leaving from Europe (for Syria), now they started talking about here. … It’s insane.”
Bihi said young Somali men in Minneapolis are vulnerable to terrorist recruiting because there are no jobs, no programs and they feel like outsiders.
“The key of this is the vastness of the vulnerability,” Bihi said.
The FBI is asking anyone with information about travels or potential travels to Syria to call (763) 569-8020.
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