TerrorismMinneapolis recruiter for Somali terrorist group al Shabab goes on trial
Minneapolis resident Mahamud Said Omar is facing five separate terrorism-related charges after being accused of helping to recruit and finance U.S. militants for a Somali terrorist group; since 2007 the group, known as al-Shabab, has recruited more than twenty young men to leave Minnesota for Somalia to take up arms with the terrorist group; among the recruits was Shirwa Ahmed who, in November 2008, became the first known U.S. citizen to carry out a suicide bombing
Mahamad Said Omar is accused of recruiting and financing recruits for al-Shabab // Source: ticklethewire.com
Mahamud Said Omar is facing five separate terrorism-related charges after being accused of helping to recruit and finance U.S. militants for a Somali terrorist group.
Since 2007 the group, known as al-Shabab, has recruited more than twenty young men to leave Minnesota for Somalia to take up arms with the terrorist group.
Prosecutors do not consider the 46-year old man to be the mastermind when it comes to recruiting young men, but they say he was more than a small cog in the project. The Washington Times reports that according to prosecutors, Omar encouraged young men to fight for al-Shabab, helped some get plane tickets to travel to Somalia, and helped pay for weapons.
“We believe it’s a very important case because it will be the government’s only opportunity, to date, to explain to the public what has been going on in the Somali community, and how these recruiters have been going after these young men,” U.S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jeanne Cooney told the Washington Times. “I think it will go a long way in explaining how these cases tie together.”
Omar came to the United States in 1993 and is now a permanent resident. He insists he is innocent.
“He maintains that he has never lifted a hand or spoken a word against the interests of the United States, and that’s what the evidence will show,” Jon Hopeman, one of his attorneys, told the Times. “He also has a great respect for the country that took him in.”
Eighteen other men have been charged in this case, but Omar is the first to go to trial. Seven other pled guilty while the other ten are presumed to be out of the country or dead.
According to prosecutors, Omar gave money to men who traveled to Somalia in 2007 and went there himself in 2008. Omar stayed at a safe house while in Somalia with other men from Minnesota, including Shirwa Ahmed, the first known U.S. citizen to carry out a suicide bombing.
In April 2008 Omar returned to the United States and continued to help al-Shabab recruit men. In November 2008, days after Ahmed’s suicide bombing, Omar helped a group of six men buy airline tickets, accompanied them to a travel agency, and gave one of the men money.
Omar’s brothers Mohamed Osman and Abdullahi describe him as shy and easily led person, not smart enough to be a terrorist and buy weapons. They say his trip in April 2008 was to get married and his trip in November was to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage.
Prosecutors will use recordings of phone calls in which Omar is making plans for men to leave the city and discussing the fighting taking place in Somalia. At least two men who spent time with al-Shabab and traveled to Somalia are expected to testify on the prosecutions behalf.
Omar’s attorneys have ruled mental disease or insanity as a defense, but may ask witnesses including his brothers about Omar’s state of mind.
