Two men from California face charges linked to an ISIS plot aimed at targeting U.S. Special Forces using drones and grenades.
Bereen Zayi, 25, from Lakeside, near San Diego, and Elias Shamsardeen, 21, from Porterville, Tulare County, were apprehended on Friday, along with 21-year-old Bisaam Ghafoor from Leawood, Kansas.
Prosecutors assert that the trio allegedly paid $2,000 to someone associated with a jihadist group to procure rocket-propelled grenades and drones for their planned attack.
Documents filed in federal court in Kansas indicate that Zayi, Shamsardeen, and Ghafoor discussed these extremist intentions for over a year, including plans to leave the U.S. and join ISIS.
Zayi reportedly suggested utilizing drones to target Special Forces, while Shamsardeen allegedly expressed an interest in carrying out knife assaults against military personnel.
Moreover, the Justice Department claims Ghafoor made various alarming statements, including expressing distress at the thought of having his name attached to the drone used in the purported attack.
Prosecutors have also cited Ghafoor discussing violent acts, including decapitating female soldiers and a wish to kill 300 million Americans.
While Pentagon officials haven’t verified Zayi’s military affiliation, some neighbors and former classmates suggest he served in the Navy, even pointing to a sailor uniform photo.
Residents, including military families, expressed difficulty reconciling the arrest with what they knew of Zayi. “I looked outside and a tactical unit had surrounded the house,” one neighbor recounted.
This seemed very unusual for the neighborhood, prompting others to watch from a distance without approaching.
Agents conducted a thorough search of the home and garage for several hours, speaking with Zayi’s parents throughout.
“Soon you will see the anti-terrorism headquarters and the alarm will sound,” remarked another neighbor, who sought reassurance from an FBI agent regarding safety, and was told that the operation was simply an arrest.
According to local residents, Zayi preferred to keep to himself, which they noted is atypical for the area. “He doesn’t usually engage with those around him,” one person observed.
