Pakistani-American Having Links With Terror Outfits JeM And ISIS Arrested By FBI At North Carolina Airport

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a 35-year-old Pakistani-American national on his arrival from Pakistan for being in touch with terror groups- the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), reports The Hindu.

Waqar Ul-Hassan was arrested at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina on 30 April. He is a naturalised US citizen who had moved to America at the age of 15.

Hassan was arrested for two counts of making false statements in 2015 about his contacts with the terrorist groups. Hassan could be charged with eight years of imprisonment if he is convicted.

In 2014, the FBI had received information that Hassan was in touch with terrorist organisations, according to the court documents. Hassan, during an interview with FBI denied having any links with terror outfits. However, during an another interview with the federal agency in November 2015, Hassan admitted that he lied and was in contact with two terrorist groups - IS and JeM.

According to the FBI, Hassan has admitted having extensive contacts with a JeM recruiter, whom he has identified by name and also exchanged phone numbers and had conversations regarding extremism with him. He also admitted of travelling to Pakistan in 2013 and 2014 to collect money for JeM terrorists.