A 28-year-old Houston man, Anas Said, is in custody on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), facing a possible 20-year sentence and a $250,000 fine if convicted; his detention hearing is set before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray. Arrested last Friday, investigations into Said’s activities heightened following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, with the suspect’s descent towards potential violence placing him as a significant national security threat in the region, “Due to the Oct.7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, Said’s behavior began to mobilize towards violence. As a result of this path towards violence, he jumped to the top of our list of national security threats here in Houston,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Wiliams Jr. stated,
Fox 26 Houston
reports.
Social media played a key role in Said’s arrest, with court documents revealing multiple accounts linked to him that showed his support for ISIS and endorsement of its violent actions. His online activity blurred the line between virtual allegiance and real-world intent, leading local authorities to view this as a credible threat, according to
Fox 26 Houston
. A thorough investigation by the FBI’s Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), supported by the Houston and Sugar Land Police Departments and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, uncovered Said’s efforts to incite violence and act as an ISIS advocate. He was reportedly targeting military recruiting centers and planning attacks with explosives, specifically in the Houston area, with the intention of causing mass casualties, “Investigators with the JTTF (FBI Houston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force) learned Said was searching for ways to commit violent acts in the United States, on our soil, and right here in Houston, Texas,” Williams detailed.
Furthermore, executed search warrants led to the unveiling of Said’s encrypted messages, mapping out his rigorous efforts in producing and spreading pro-ISIS propaganda through images, videos, and flyers; his outspoken communications even went so far as to offer his residence as a harbor for ISIS operatives and divulge ambitions reminiscent of historic terrorism within the nation’s borders, he nurtured ambitious fantasies of infiltration and destruction further suggesting an infiltration into the U.S. military to perpetuate internal chaos.
The significance of the arrest and its implications for national security led local leaders and law enforcement officials to hold a press conference, where they provided additional details about the case. Notable figures, including U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani and Executive Assistant Chief Keith Seafous, participated in the briefing, which was streamed live at 11:00 a.m. on local outlet KPRC 2’s platforms. The conference offered a transparent view of the collaborative efforts within the Houston community to address domestic threats, as noted in a
KPRC 2
announcement.
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