Amir Said Abdul Rahman al-Ghazi

Amir Said Abdul Rahman al-Ghazi, a U.S. citizen previously known as Robert C. McCollum, is a homegrown extremist and supporter of ISIS.Jen Steer, “Man arrested on terrorism-related charges in North Olmsted,” Fox 8 Cleveland, June 19, 2015, http://fox8.com/2015/06/19/man-arrested-on-terrorism-related-charges-in-north-olmsted/. Ghazi caught the attention of the FBI through his online propagandizing for ISIS, including his online pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.ldquo;Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, June 19, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/479731/download. In June 2015, Ghazi was arrested and charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, possession of a firearm as a felon, and drug distribution.“U.S. Citizen Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL and Other Federal Offenses,” FBI, June 19, 2015, https://www.fbi.gov/cleveland/press-releases/2015/u.s.-citizen-arrested-for-attempting-to-provide-material-support-to-isil-and-other-federal-offenses. He pleaded guilty to those charges on March 16, 2016,Phil Helsel, “Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Trying to Help ISIS,” NBC News, March 16, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-trying-help-isis-n540466. and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.“Ohio Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Providing Support to ISIS, Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms,” U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs, June 20, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-16-years-prison-providing-support-isis-being-felon-possession-firearms.

The FBI employed several confidential human sources (CHS), or informants, to monitor, interact with, and collect information on Ghazi. According to the FBI’s criminal complaint, Ghazi expressed to the CHS his desire to create ISIS propaganda videos and to conduct terrorist attacks in the U.S.Jen Steer, “Man arrested on terrorism-related charges in North Olmsted,” Fox 8 Cleveland, June 19, 2015, http://fox8.com/2015/06/19/man-arrested-on-terrorism-related-charges-in-north-olmsted/.

Ghazi was arrested in June 2015 after purchasing an AK-47 rifle from an undercover agent. According to the FBI, Ghazi had planned to use the rifle as a prop in self-made propaganda videos supporting ISIS. After Ghazi’s arrest, agents also discovered a handgun, sword, and ISIS flag at Ghazi’s home. On March 16, 2016, Ghazi pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and firearms charges.Phil Helsel, “Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Trying to Help ISIS,” NBC News, March 16, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-trying-help-isis-n540466. On June 20, 2018, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.“Ohio Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Providing Support to ISIS, Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms,” U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs, June 20, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-16-years-prison-providing-support-isis-being-felon-possession-firearms.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
ISIS
Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
Position(s):
Propagandist, homegrown extremist, conspirator

ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

  • Rhetoric
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Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

In Their Own Words:

We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].

Abu Ali al-Askari, Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) Security Official Mar. 2023
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