On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, a man was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York while attempting to board a flight to Doha, Qatar.
Syed Aman, 33, a U.S. citizen from Nassau County, New York, apparently had plans to join the Islamic State (ISIS) and actively participate in jihad in Syria. This incident sheds a harsh light on the ongoing threat of international terrorism and the effective response by law enforcement agencies.
Radicalization and the planned trip
Aman, who had been expressing his sympathies for ISIS on social media for two years, was deeply immersed in a radical ideology. He had sent funds to a suspected ISIS operative to support terrorist activities in Syria, clearly showing his intention to go to war. The 33-year-old made several attempts to buy plane tickets through various channels to travel from New York to Syria via Doha. Using his credit card, he finally managed to buy a ticket to Bangladesh, with the intention of getting off in Doha and from there traveling to Turkey and finally Syria.
FBI and secret investigations
Fortunately, the FBI was able to stop the man in time. Since the beginning of October, Aman had been in contact with a secret source who, in cooperation with law enforcement, provided information about his travel plans. This source, an FBI informant, had learned of Aman's radical ideas and informed the agency of his intention to join ISIS.
Surveillance and ongoing investigations prevented anything worse from happening. Aman had openly stated that he wanted to fight as a "martyr" in the name of ISIS and that he was willing to kill American "infidels." In a conversation with the FBI informant, he said that he felt it was his duty to act against "infidels" because he believed that if they were not killed, they would destroy the Muslims.
Aman also stated that he was preparing for a possible confrontation with the authorities. He was carrying a steel pen that he intended to use as a weapon in the event of an arrest. This weapon was in a shoulder bag at the time of his arrest. When he tried to take the flight, FBI agents intervened and prevented him from traveling.
Further incidents
This incident is not the only one in which the FBI thwarted a possible terrorist threat. In October 2024, Michael Teekaye Jr., a Baltimore man who also wanted to join ISIS, was also arrested. Teekaye had admitted to investigators that he had undergone military training for ISIS in Somalia and wanted to join the fighters there. Like Aman, Teekaye also displayed a dangerous mix of radical beliefs and violent actions.
prevention and monitoring
The case of Syed Aman once again demonstrates the need for effective surveillance of individuals who show signs of radicalization. The FBI and other agencies are increasingly relying on undercover agents and informants to identify and stop terrorist networks at an early stage. The use of such sources plays a crucial role in counterterrorism, especially in identifying individuals who pose a threat to public safety in their own countries.
Proactive cooperation between various intelligence agencies and continuous monitoring of potential terrorists like Aman prevented another tragedy at the last minute. These measures are necessary to protect citizens from the threat of international terrorism and to weaken ISIS's global network.
The incident at JFK Airport highlights the importance of identifying and stopping radicalized individuals early. Despite the difficult challenges of fighting terrorism, authorities' quick response and support of informants may have prevented another attack. It remains to be seen how counterterrorism will evolve in the coming years, but prevention technologies and strategies must constantly adapt to respond to evolving threats.
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