A 25-year-old U.S. Navy sailor has been arrested in California after federal authorities say he was tied to a disturbing ISIS-linked plot involving drones, rocket-propelled grenades, and horrific threats against American service members.
Federal prosecutors say Bereen Dzayee, of Lakeside, California, was taken into custody by the FBI on Friday along with two other men: 21-year-old Elias Shamsaldeen, of Porterville, California, and 21-year-old Bisaam Ghafoor, of Leawood, Kansas.
According to the Department of Justice, the three men had allegedly been communicating online for more than a year about supporting ISIS and traveling overseas to fight for the terrorist organization.
Authorities say the group sent $2,000 to a person they believed was connected to ISIS after being told the money would be used to buy drones and rocket-propelled grenades.
But prosecutors say the plot went far beyond online talk.
In a federal complaint filed in Kansas, investigators alleged the men discussed detailed plans to leave the United States and fight for ISIS. They also allegedly talked about violence against U.S. military members.
Dzayee, who appeared in a now-deleted Instagram post wearing a Navy uniform, allegedly suggested targeting U.S. Special Forces, one of America’s most elite military units.
Shamsaldeen allegedly told the others he wanted to “stab and injure a U.S. servicemember,” while Ghafoor allegedly made one of the most chilling statements in the case, saying, “I wish I could kill 300,000,000 Americans.”
According to the DOJ, Ghafoor also allegedly talked about beheading a female soldier and said it would be “sick” if his name were written on a drone used in an attack.
Federal authorities said the men expressed a willingness to die for ISIS in some of their communications.
FBI agents descended on Dzayee’s family home in Lakeside around 6 a.m. Friday, shocking neighbors in the quiet cul-de-sac.
One neighbor told NBC 7 that a white van pulled up before tactical agents jumped out and surrounded the house.
“We looked out — it seemed to me like it was a white van that pulled up and tactical guys jumped out and surrounded the house,” the neighbor said. “Very odd in this neighborhood. So the neighbors started coming out. We didn’t approach but we were watching.”
According to locals, agents spent hours searching the home, going through the family’s garbage, and speaking with Dzayee’s parents. Several agents were seen carrying large brown bags out of the home, though it was not immediately clear what was inside them.
The presence of FBI agents and the Terrorist Task Force rattled residents even more.
One neighbor said he was so concerned that he walked up to an FBI agent and asked if the home was going to explode.
“I actually walked up to the FBI agent and asked if the house was going to blow up, should the neighborhood be concerned, and he assured me, ‘No, we’re arresting someone is all we got,’” the neighbor said.
Another man who lives nearby told NBC 7 that Dzayee did not appear to be very social. Other neighbors reportedly confirmed that Dzayee served in the military.
Following the arrests, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche praised federal authorities for stopping the alleged plot before it could turn deadly.
“This administration has put terrorists, cartels, and gangs on notice,” Blanche said. “Today’s arrest of three individuals who allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIS makes clear our commitment to taking down terrorist networks — anywhere.”
“Thanks to the vigilance of the FBI, their alleged scheme was dismantled and further acts of violence against U.S. service members were prevented,” he added.
FBI Director Kash Patel also called the arrests a major success.
“These subjects allegedly swore allegiance to ISIS, plotted multiple attacks, and even targeted U.S. service members — but this FBI stopped them cold,” Patel said.
“The success of this op shows once again this FBI’s continued record of stopping terrorist attacks before they happen, simply the best way to defend the homeland — and shows we’ll stop at nothing to defend Americans from those who seek to do us harm,” he added.
The arrests come as the Trump administration continues to emphasize a hardline approach to terrorism, gangs, cartels, and threats against U.S. citizens and service members.
For many Americans, the most disturbing part of the case may be the allegation that one of the suspects was not some foreign fighter overseas, but a Navy sailor living in a quiet California neighborhood while allegedly discussing support for ISIS and violence against the very country he was sworn to serve.
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Based on their names, it seems the trio’s families may be of Mideast descent. It would be nice if the article relayed that info. Hopefully they are watching closely for similar situations.
Hang him
This sailor is a Muslim traitor and should be executed