Minneapolis Woman Charged With Terrorism Offenses, Arson, And Making False Statements

United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced a three-count indictment charging TNUZA JAMAL HASSAN, 19, with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, arson, and making a false statement. HASSAN will make her initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge at a later date.

According to the indictment, on September 19, 2017, HASSAN, a former student at St. Catherine University (SCU) in St. Paul, Minnesota, attempted to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely, al-Qa’ida. On September 22, 2017, in an interview with FBI Agents, HASSAN was asked whether she authored and delivered a letter to two fellow students at SCU in March 2017. The letter sought to encourage fellow students to “join the jihad in fighting” and to “[j]oin Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Al Shabaab.” HASSAN knowingly made a false statement to FBI Agents when she stated (1) she did not write the letter, (2) she did not know who wrote the letter, and (3) did not know how the letter came to be delivered to her fellow students.

According to the indictment, on January 17, 2018, HASSAN started several fires on the campus of SCU, including in St. Mary Hall, which she maliciously damaged. The fires set by HASSAN caused the St. Paul Fire Department to respond to SCU.

HASSAN was charged in Ramsey County District Court with one count of first-degree arson and is currently in custody at the Ramsey County Jail.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter is prosecuting the case.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force, St. Paul Police Department, and arson investigators from the St. Paul Fire Department. 

Defendant Information:                                                                                                                     

TNUZA JAMAL HASSAN, 19

Minneapolis, Minn.

Charges:

• Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (al-Qa’ida), 1 count
• False Statement, 1 count
• Arson, 1 count

 
 
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.