Minneapolis Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, in December 2024, Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan (“Hassan”) attempted to travel from Minnesota to Somalia to join ISIS on two occasions, neither of which was successful. Hassan attempted to disguise the purpose of his travel as visiting family despite having none in Somalia and was traveling with his birth certificate, naturalization certificate, and high school diploma.  The FBI’s investigation established that Hassan publicly supported ISIS on social media through multiple posts and communicated with a Facebook account for the Manjaniq Media Center, which encouraged individuals to travel to join ISIS and touts itself as a media organization of the Islamic Caliphate. The investigation further revealed that Hassan praised Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the perpetrator of the January 1, 2025, ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans, Louisiana.  On February 21, 2025, Hassan also posted a video of himself driving while holding a small ISIS flag inside the vehicle, as well as another video of himself driving with an open knife on his lap.  On February 26, 2025, FBI observed Hassan driving while again holding the ISIS flag. 

“As we have all seen in recent months, ISIS and its supporters pose the gravest of dangers to our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.  “Those who support foreign terrorist organizations in our homeland—like Hassan—are a clear and present threat to our national security.  They will be held to account.”

“The FBI will continue to aggressively use all of our authorities to investigate and arrest anyone who assists foreign terrorist organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Hassan allegedly attempted to travel to Somalia to join ISIS on two occasions and publicly shared support of ISIS on his social media accounts. Such acts are wholly unacceptable, and the FBI will work tirelessly with our partners to hold accountable those who attempt to support terrorists.”

Hassan was arrested by authorities yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung and was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing which will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in St. Paul,  before Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko. 

The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar, and National Security Division Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorneys Ryan White and Charles Kovats, Jr., are prosecuting the case. 

A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.