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2 Refugees in Arizona Charged with Supporting Islamic State

Associated Press

   PHOENIX, ARIZONA - Two Somalia refugees living in Arizona were charged
   with providing support to a terror group after federal agents say they
   were planning to travel from Tucson to Egypt to join the Islamic State.

   A criminal charge unsealed Monday alleged 21-year-old Ahmed Mahad
   Mohamed and 20-year-old Abdi Yemani Hussein had told an undercover FBI
   employee that they wanted to travel to the Middle East to carry out
   violence and "achieve martyrdom.''

   Both Tucson residents, who had received government documents to travel
   to Egypt, were arrested Friday after they checked in for their flights
   and made their way through security at Tucson International Airport.

   Mohamed is accused of expressing an interest in beheading people, while
   authorities say Hussein expressed a desire to kill people in the Middle
   East.

   Tom Hartzell, an attorney for Mohamed, didn't return a call seeking
   comment on his client's behalf.

   Brad Roach, attorney for Hussein, said his client is asserting his
   innocence and ``looking forward to the legal process going forward.''

   Authorities say Mohamed told an undercover FBI employee during
   social-media exchanges that he was "thirsty'' for the blood of
   disbelievers and that "the best wake up call is (for the) Islamic State
   to get victory or another 911.''

   During an April meeting with the undercover FBI employee, Mohamed said
   "jihad is the only thing on his mind and that he wants to make the
   kuffar (disbelievers) in Egypt cry,'' according to the criminal
   complaint.

   During a meeting a month ago between Mohamed, Hussein and the
   undercover FBI employee, Hussein said he wanted to blow up the White
   House and that when he arrived in the Sinai peninsula of Egypt, ``he
   needs blood on his hands,'' according to the complaint.