Man Accused Of Tweeting Threats Over ISIS Arrests To Remain In Jail
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A teenager has been ordered to be held in prison pending his trial after he allegedly threatened a massacre and to kill a federal attorney in retaliation for the arrest of six terror suspects from Minnesota.
Mahamed Abukar Said, who appeared in court Wednesday, is accused of tweeting that he would "whack" the U.S. Attorney General, and in another tweet promised a massacre if the six suspects weren't released.
According to a criminal complaint, the 19-year-old also tweeted a photo of the informant who has been supplying the FBI with information on the six men now charged for trying to join ISIS. The tweet has since been removed, but the charges say the FBI captured a screenshot, in which Said is shown calling the informant out as a "snitch."
Said's hearing Wednesday occurred under heavy security both outside and inside the Minneapolis federal courthouse. An FBI agent testified that Said admitted to posting the threats.
Said is also said to have told the FBI he made the posts because he was angry that the men, five of whom are his close friends, were arrested.
At least 10 of Said's friends testified in court, saying he had no intention of carrying out the threats.
"I don't think there is any chance he meant to carry that out, from the person that we know," said Abdullahi Omer, a friend of Said's. "And I saw the same person as was in that courtroom today, he didn't mean any of that."
In ordering Said held in jail pending trial, a federal magistrate noted Said has a history of domestic violence and has failed to show up for court dates eight different times.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
The prosecutor in the case is from the western district court of Wisconsin because it is believed Said's threat was toward Minnesota's U.S. Attorney, Andy Luger, although the tweet said "U.S. Attorney General."
