Bangladeshi national in US accused of providing material support to ISIS

A 24-year-old Bangladeshi national in the US has been accused of providing material support to the dreaded Islamic State militant group regarding a plot to kill American service members, the US said on Tuesday. 

Nelash Mohamed Das is currently resident of Hyattsville in Maryland. On conviction he faces 20 years in prison. "Nelash Mohamed Das is alleged to have plotted to kill a US service member on behalf of ISIL," said Assistant Attorney General John P Carlin. "Individuals intent on carrying out violence in the name of foreign terrorist organizations pose one of the most concerning threats that law enforcement faces today and stopping these offenders before they are able to act is our highest priority," Carlin said in a statement. 

Das, who has permanent residency status, had an initial appearance at a US District Court in Maryland. The court has ordered Das to be detained pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for October 6. The affidavit alleges that from September 28, 2015 to early 2016, Das used social media to express his support for Islamic State militant group, including support for terrorist attacks in Paris, France, and San Bernardino, California. 

On October 26, 2015, Das tweeted the name of an individual and the city where they lived, stating that the individual "aspires to kill Muslims". Das knew that the individual hoped to become a member of the US military. The Islamic State members and supporters have posted identifying information about US military personnel in hopes that those inspired by the Islamic State would carry out attacks against them. 

The affidavit alleges that Das was advertising the individual's identity and whereabouts in order to inspire violence against that individual. On January 30, 2016, Das tweeted a picture of an AK-47 assault rifle along with the text, "This is more than just a gun. This is a ticket to Jannah (paradise)."

According to the affidavit, on April 30, this year Das attended the Handgun Qualification License class at a firing range in Maryland. After the class, Das told another individual that he wanted to buy a Glock 9mm handgun and an AK-47. Over the next five months, Das returned to the firing range to practice firing weapons, and submitted his fingerprints to obtain a handgun permit. During May 2016, Das met a confidential human source (CHS) working for the FBI.

On July 23, Das told the CHS that he wanted to kill a particular military member who lived in Prince George?s County, Maryland, and whose identifying information Das had obtained the prior year from a list posted online by ISIL.