Feds mum on disappearances of young Somalis from the Twin Cities

Authorities in Minneapolis aren’t commenting on the recent disappearances of more young Somalis from the Twin Cities.

Somali-American community leaders fear another group may have traveled to join a terrorist group. Congressman Keith Ellison, who represents Minneapolis, says his office hasn’t been able to confirm details about the trips. He says it’s difficult to identify and stop this kind of travel.

“It’s legal to go to Istanbul. You can book a flight and go,” Ellison told MPR News host Tom Weber. “You have the money, you have the proper traveling documents you can go. I mean how to you stop people from exercising their legal right to travel and distinguish them from somebody who’s being lured or going for an illegal or evil reason?”

It’s not clear how many people have left the country – or when they left. But the disappearances apparently occurred sometime After federal authorities arrested six men in April on charges of conspiring to join ISIS.

US Attorney Andy Lugar’s Somali American Task Force, which has worked to prevent the radicalization of young people.

Ellison says Somalis should know members of the task force have the best intentions.

“At the end of the day, if you know something please say something and understand that we are trying to protect our young people here. These are our kids,” Ellison added.