Six Somali-Americans arrested trying to join Islamic State group

Washington (AFP) – US authorities on Monday announced the arrest of six Somali-American men who planned to travel to Syria to fight with the Islamic State jihadist group.

“They are all from Minnesota and are all part of the same conspiracy,” US Attorney for Minnesota Andrew Luger told a press conference, adding that several of the men had been repeatedly seeking to travel to Syria over the past year, with the help of an acquaintance who had made it to Syria and was actively recruiting in Minnesota.

Four of the men were arrested Sunday in Minneapolis, while two were arrested in San Diego, where they had intended to acquire forged documents and then cross into Mexico to begin their journey to Syria, according to the US Department of Justice.

“They were not confused young men, they were not easily influenced. These are focused men who were intent on joining a terrorist organization by any means possible,” Luger said.