Skip to main content

Brooklyn man faces terrorism charges

  • Story Highlights
  • Charges include conspiracy to commit murder abroad and support foreign terrorists
  • Man wanted to join militant group in Somalia, officials say
  • They accuse him of planning to fight U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A Brooklyn resident was indicted on conspiracy charges for trying to join a terrorist group overseas and kill U.S. troops, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced Thursday.

Betim Kaziu, 21, was indicted for conspiracy to commit murder abroad and support foreign terrorists. The U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement that he made plans to join a foreign fighter group overseas and to "take up arms against perceived enemies of Islam."

Kaziu wanted to join the Somalian militant group Al-Shabaab in Somalia, the statement said. He also planned to travel from Cairo, Egypt, to Pakistan for militant training, and go to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans to battle U.S. troops, according to the indictment.

Kaziu made it to Cairo and then went to Kosovo but was arrested there by local authorities in late August.

Al-Shabaab, which the United States considers a terrorist organization, is an Islamic militant group that controls much of southern Somalia.

The indictment against Kaziu was announced the same day Najibullah Zazi, 24 of Aurora, Colorado, was charged with conspiracy "to use weapons of mass destruction" against persons or property in the United States.

All About TerrorismAl Shabaab

  • E-mail
  • Save
  • Print