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A former New York resident with dual U.S.-Albanian citizenship was arrested Thursday in New York on criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and the distribution of instructions and information related to the production of explosives.
According to court documents, Erald Alimehmeti , 33, from Tirana, a former resident of the Bronx in New York moved to Albania in 2014.
Alimehmeti was arrested by the Albanian authorities and imprisoned from the end of 2015 to 2019 and again from the end of 2020 to 2022 for criminal offenses of illegal possession of weapons.
After life in prison, Alimehmeti created and used multiple online accounts on encrypted messaging apps and social media websites to communicate with others about planning and training for attacks on behalf of ISIS. For example, in 2019, Alimehmeti expressed interest in "DC sniper" style attacks for which he requested the participation of confidential sources, writing: " Do you know akhi with a sniper? Formulas and ballistics? ” and “ I will inform you brothers immediately before the op, not here akhi. Do you both know how to use red dot optics and how to zero them? "
Alimehmeti also requested what he described as "tactical" equipment and "equipment" for "training" for "operations" in support of ISIS, including special designs of vests capable of carrying "ballistic plates", "magazine pouches" and "knife" and described the modifications he intended to make to his "KAM," an apparent reference to an assault rifle.
Additionally, in 2019 and 2020, Alimehmeti regularly posted pro-ISIS propaganda online, praising specific ISIS leaders and promoting publications and videos released by ISIS.
Alimehmet's social media posts included praise for ISIS propagandist Sheikh ul-Haqq Musa Cerantonio and Libyan terrorist and senior al Qaeda official Abu Yahya al-Libi, photo of various jihadist publications, such as "Islamic decision to allow of self-sacrificing operations: Suicide or Martyrdom?” and "The Book of Jihad"; and a video depicting the killing of US Special Forces in Niger with an accompanying commentary in Albanian: “Islamic State in Africa killing crusaders, American and French special forces. Watch how US special forces scream before they die !!! Hahaha!”
Alimehmeti described his work in gathering resources for mixing dangerous chemicals and manufacturing explosives. He discussed how to make special types of incendiaries to spray innocent bystanders in a terrorist attack. In an encrypted message channel, Alimehmeti posted dozens of links and documents on topics such as the manufacture of explosives, the use of firearms, defensive tactics and outdoor survival, with comments encouraging their use.
He posted a video and described it as "a video release from the Caliph's official media, explaining how YOU O Muwahid can make TATP explosives in your home...FIGHT YOU O MUAWAHID", an apparent reference to a popular video of ISIS titled, "You Must Fight Them, O Muwahhid," which provides step-by-step instructions for building an explosive device and how to attack a man with a knife.
Alimehmeti is charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of distributing information about explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists primarily of FBI agents and analysts and detectives from the New York City Police Department, is investigating the case.
The Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security's National Security Investigations and law enforcement partners in Albania and Australia, including the Australian Attorney General's Department, also assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley and Jane Y. Chong for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of District Attorney Jessica K. Fender of the Homeland Security Division's Counterterrorism Section./ justice.gov
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