Long Island Teen Arrested for Trying to Join Al Qaeda

John Mitty Wednesday, June 26, 2013

18 year old Long Islander Justin Kaliebe was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport attempting to board a flight to Yemen.  Accoridng to Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch, Kaliebe was planning to travel overseas so that he could wage war against Yemeni and U.S. forces.  He was influenced in his decision by online propaganda from Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, two well known terrorists from the U.S. who joined up with Al Qaeda. 

How did authorities learn that Kaliebe was planning to join Al Qaeda?  Two informants were working secretly with investigators, and recorded some of his meetings.  If he had boarded the plane, Kaliebe would have flown to Yemen where he would have joined Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the current rendition of the terrorist organization, headed by the former secretary to Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.  Kaliebe openly admitted afterward that he would have fought both the Yemeni army and U.S. soldiers and drones.  The U.S.court system does not take matters of treason lightly.  The sentencing date for the Long Island teen has yet to be set, but it is likely he could face up to 30 years in prison for his plot.

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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