Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Brooklyn Men Arrested After They Allegedly Tried To Join ISIL
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 25, 2015
Modified Feb 25, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 25, 2015
Modified Feb 25, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Three Brooklyn residents have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a terror group, the FBI announced today. According to investigators, Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev, 24, and Akhror Saidakhmetov, 19, were planning to leave Brooklyn and travel to Syria to join the Islamic State (a.k.a. ISIS a.k.a. ISIL), and intended to commit domestic terrorism here in America if their trip was unsuccessful. A third man, Abror Habibov, 30, is accused of participating and financing the endeavor.
The threat was "aspirational, not operational," according to the FBI, which conducted extensive surveillance of the three suspects last summer. Juraboev caught the FBI's eye after he allegedly made a posting on an Uzbek-language website that propagates ISIL’s ideology. The men allegedly made a number of terroristic threats online. Here's an excerpt from the criminal complaint:
Arrests were made this morning after Saidakhmetov was about to board a flight to Istanbul from JFK airport. Juraboev, a citizen of Uzbekistan, had previously purchased a plane ticket to travel from New York.
Last month ISIL spokesman Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani reportedly urged Muslims to carry out "lone wolf" attacks around the world. FBI investigators say Saidakhmetov announced intentions to buy a machine gun and kill police officers and FBI agents if his attempt to join ISIL in Syria failed.
"Two of the defendants in this case sought to travel to Syria to join [ISIL] but were prepared to wage violent jihad here in the United States if they were unable to travel,” said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch in a statement. “Another defendant allegedly provided financial assistance and encouragement and operated a domestic network of individuals willing to support [ISIS]’s cause. We will vigorously prosecute those who attempt to travel to Syria to wage violent jihad on behalf of ISIL and those who support them. Anyone who threatens our citizens and our allies, here or abroad, will face the full force of American justice."
Read the entire complaint here in PDF form.
Tagged
isil
isis
original
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
More than 122,000 cases are being recalled over undeclared food dyes.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 4:36 p.m. ET
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
By
Elizabeth Kim
Dominican man who shot border patrol officer in NYC sentenced to 15 years in prison
By
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .