A Pennsylvania 19-year-old pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, used Twitter to spread its propaganda and had a backpack with ammunition that suggests he might have been plotting an attack, federal authorities said Thursday.
Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz, of Harrisburg, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of attempting to provide material support to terrorists. He had an initial court appearance and will be held pending a detention and preliminary hearing next week.
Court documents said a “go bag” or “tactical-style backpack” found in Aziz’s closet during a Nov. 27 search contained a high-capacity magazine loaded with ammunition, a modified kitchen knife, a thumb drive, a tin filled with medicine and a full face mask similar to those worn by Islamic State militants. Aziz may have been “preparing to conduct or assist others in conducting an attack in the United States,” according to a criminal complaint.
Aziz used Twitter to advocate violence against U.S. citizens and military members and to disseminate Islamic State propaganda, and also tried helping others travel to Syria to fight for the Islamic State group, authorities said.
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