California Sailor Arrested for Alleged ISIS Plot
A Navy sailor from California was among three individuals arrested by federal authorities, suspected of planning to support ISIS and launching attacks against U.S. military special forces. This included intentions to use drones, hand grenades, and rocket-propelled grenades.
Bereen Zayi, 25, from Lakeside near San Diego, along with Elias Shamsardeen, 21, from Porterville, and Bissam Ghafoor, also 21, from Leawood, Kansas, were taken into custody after an extensive FBI investigation culminated in their arrest on Friday.
According to a federal complaint filed in Kansas, the three allegedly spent over a year discussing extremist plans, including thoughts about fleeing the country to join ISIS.
Prosecutors report that the trio expressed loyalty to ISIS, sought to provide support to the terrorist group, and even plotted to kill Americans.
The complaint indicates that they deliberated over obtaining weapons to target U.S. special forces. Notably, Ghafoor reportedly asked a confidential FBI informant, whom he thought was an ISIS member, “How many people do you want to kill?”
Prosecutors further disclosed that Ghafoor harbored a desire to kill female soldiers by beheading them, claiming, “I wish I could kill 300 million Americans.”
The investigation began in May 2025 when an undercover source connected with the FBI encountered the group on a social media platform, where they mistakenly believed the person had ties with ISIS.
They allegedly discussed acquiring rocket-propelled grenades, with one complaint image showing these weapons along with other firearms stashed in a pickup truck’s bed.
One RPG reportedly bore Arabic script that prosecutors claimed translates to “Bissam Shahzad Ghafoor.” Ghafoor had previously stated that seeing his name on a drone would make him feel “sick,” while Zayi suggested it might make a great social media post.
Ghafoor mentioned plans to take a job to raise funds for AK-47s and ammo to prepare for combat training aligned with ISIS. Moreover, court documents reveal comments made by Shamsardeen regarding his mother encouraging her children to grow up hating Americans.
On October 19, 2025, Shamsardeen allegedly paid homage to ISIS leadership in a message shared with confidential informants, including a commitment to follow the organization’s orders.
Additionally, authorities accused the three of efforts to financially support ISIS. The complaint details how Ghafoor and Zayi discussed using virtual currency to transfer funds and described an incident where Ghafoor handed cash to an undercover agent at a mosque in Kansas City.
One envelope with cash was even directed to a mosque in New Jersey. Shamsardeen reportedly sent $1,590 for ISIS and expressed gratitude to an informant for enabling his donation.
The arrests took the residents of Zayi’s quiet Lakeside community by surprise. Although Pentagon officials have not confirmed Zayi’s military status, neighbors and former classmates recalled him as a sailor, having seen him in Navy attire.
Local residents, including veterans, found it hard to reconcile the accusations with their understanding of him. “I looked outside and saw a white van pull up; it seemed tactical guys jumped out and surrounded the house,” noted a neighbor. “It’s eerie for this area. While we didn’t approach, we kept watching.”
Another resident voiced his unease about federal agents moving in. “You could hear the anti-terrorism alarm going off nearby,” the neighbor added.
