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BERKELEY'S NEWS • NOVEMBER 21, 2023

BHS graduate indicted on charge of attempting to support ISIS

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Staff

JULY 30, 2017

22 year-old Berkeley High School graduate and alleged ISIS supporter Amer Sinan Alhaggagi was indicted by a federal grand jury July 20 on a charge of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Among other charges, Alhaggagi, who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in November, is alleged to have provided “services and personnel” — such as opening social media accounts — to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, from July to November 2016.

Federal prosecutors allege that Alhaggagi conspired to kill 10,000 people across the Bay Area by methods such as planting backpack bombs in UC Berkeley campus dormitories and setting fire to the Berkeley Hills.

The whole Bay Area is going to be up in flames,” Alhaggagi allegedly told an FBI informant, according to NBC Bay Area.

Alhaggagi could face up to 47 years in prison if ultimately convicted on every count he faces.

Alhaggagi’s arraignment has yet to be scheduled. The investigation was conducted by a combination of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Berkeley Police Department and members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Oakland Police Department.

In a statement sent to NBC Bay Area, Alhaggagi’s family said they were “shocked to learn of the allegations against Alhaggagi.

“Amer is not and has never been radicalized in any way. He grew up in this country and loves it here. He is peaceful and kind,” Alhaggagi’s family said in the statement. “He was very young and immature when he got involved in the online conversations that are the basis for these accusations. He did not think those conversations were serious and he never had any intent to harm anyone. We love him and continue to fully support him.

Bobby Lee is an assistant news editor. Contact Bobby Lee at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @bobbylee_dc.
LAST UPDATED

JULY 30, 2017