A 20-year-old man, Sohaib Abuayyash, originally identified as a Jordanian national but later confirmed as a Palestinian citizen by the U.S. Department of Justice, has been arrested in Houston, Texas. Federal law enforcement officials detained him on charges of being in illegal possession of a firearm and for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack targeting a Jewish gathering.
Abuayyash’s journey to the United States began on a tourist visa, and he subsequently lived in the country illegally for several months. He later applied for asylum status, which was still pending at the time of his arrest. According to CNN, FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed during Senate testimony that the arrested individual had been studying bomb-making techniques and expressing support for violence against Jews. It was later confirmed that he was referring to Sohaib Abuayyash.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated its investigation into Abuayyash in August after discovering a video in which he was seen at a shooting range using semi-automatic firearms. Given his immigration status, he was prohibited from possessing or using firearms and ammunition.
Yet, “our border is secure” we are repeatedly told by #Democrats. There is no more unserious a person as one who claims that our sovereign borders are secure. Shouldn’t we at this point be checking our own soil for terrorist tunnels? 🤦🏾♂️https://t.co/nAjPhN0Rbd
— Shaughn_A (@Shaughn_A2) November 3, 2023
Court documents reveal that Abuayyash maintained direct contact with individuals sharing a radical mindset, engaged in physical training, and received weapons training, raising concerns about a potential attack. Furthermore, he reportedly accessed detailed content posted by radical organizations on the internet, including instructions on constructing explosive devices. He also made statements supporting violence against individuals of a particular religious faith and referenced an event in Houston associated with a specific religious group.
The gravity of the situation prompted federal authorities to act swiftly, resulting in his arrest on charges of unlawful firearm possession. While he currently faces this charge, it is possible that additional charges may be filed against him in the future.
A federal judge has ordered Abuayyash to be detained pending trial due to his alleged statements advocating violence against individuals of a particular religious faith and his suspected intentions to target an event in Houston attended by members of a specific religious group, which has raised significant security concerns.
