Federal investigators have charged Erald Alimehmeti, a former Bronx resident, with sharing information about building explosives and trying to give material assistance to ISIS. At a recent press conference, FBI and NYPD officials, along with Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, described the charges. Following the complaint, Alimehmeti was placed under arrest, according to a statement posted on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website.
Alimehmeti, a dual citizen of the United States and Albania, moved to Albania in 2014 after living in the Bronx. He allegedly used a variety of online sites to coordinate assaults and communicate on behalf of ISIS after being imprisoned by Albanian authorities for assault and weapons violations twice, from late 2020 to 2022 and from late 2015 to 2019. Alimehmeti is charged with disseminating pro-ISIS propaganda and comprehensive instructions on how to make explosives and weapons via social media and encrypted communications.
Alimehmeti allegedly discussed “DC sniper”-style assaults online and made requests for particular tactical equipment for ISIS-supported “training” and “operations,” such as customized assault rifle gear, in order to enlist participation in an operation. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Alimehmeti allegedly shared multiple instructions on making explosives, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy highlighted the threat posed by his actions and credited the Joint Terrorism Task Force for stopping the advancement of his evil goals.
The accusation alleges that Alimehmeti shared a video instruction on making explosives at home and talked about spraying incendiaries at innocent bystanders in an attempt to help those with similar attitudes. The collaborative effort in these investigations was praised by NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner, who noted that arrests are frequently the outcome of such attempts to aid terrorist groups.
Alimehmeti is charged with one crime of attempting to give ISIS material support and another count of disseminating knowledge on explosives. If found guilty, both counts carry a potential penalty of 20 years in jail. At this time, Alimehmeti is assumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, and the charges are merely accusations. Trial Attorney Jessica K. Fender of the Counterterrorism Section is assisting Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley and Jane Y. Chong in their handling of the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also acknowledged the cooperative nature of this investigation and thanked its international law enforcement colleagues in Australia and Albania.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply