The FBI arrested a Brownsburg, Indiana, man on Tuesday for attempting to join the self-proclaimed Islamic State.
Agents took Akram Musleh, 18, into custody while he was attempting to board a bus from Indianapolis to New York.
The FBI believes Musleh planned to fly to Morocco en route to ISIL-controlled territory where he planned to support the U.S. designated terrorist group and fight for the organization.
Musleh is no stranger to the FBI. Bureau officials say he first came to the agency’s attention in August 2013, according to a complaint filed in the U.S District Court Southern District of Indiana.
The FBI traced to Musleh, three videos posted on YouTube of Al-Quaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leader Anwar Al-Awlaki.
The complaint states FBI agents interviewed the teen at Brownsburg High School, where he acknowledged he was aware of Al-Awlaki’s history, and the FBI, “took steps to dissuade Musleh from engaging in radical extremism."
Last spring, investigators say Musleh purchased or attempted to purchase numerous one-way airline tickets to destinations such as Iraq or Turkey. Last June, he was prevented from boarding a flight to Turkey via Italy when a U.S. Customs employee discovered Musleh’s passport was due to expire.
This spring, the FBI tracked Musleh’s internet searches, which they say included top terror targets in Indiana, and information about explosive materials. Agents also say they found several files regarding jihad, martyrdom and ISIL on his cell phone.
They also spent several months tracking his social media accounts.
Musleh faces one federal count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.