Hasan Rasheed Edmonds

The FBI arrested U.S. Army National Guard Specialist Hasan Rasheed Edmonds of Aurora, Illinois, in March 2015 for attempting to join ISIS. He was arrested while attempting to fly to Cairo from the Chicago Midway International Airport. Edmonds’s cousin, Jonas Marcel Edmonds, was simultaneously arrested at his Aurora home, and both were charged with conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.“US Army National Guard Soldier and His Cousin Arrested for Conspiring to Support Terrorism (ISIL),” U.S. Department of Justice, March 26, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-army-national-guard-soldier-and-his-cousin-arrested-conspiring-support-terrorism-isil. The defendants allegedly planned for Jonas to carry out acts of violence in the United States once Hasan was abroad.“US Army National Guard Soldier and his Cousin Arrested for Conspiring to Support Terrorism (ISIL),” United States Department of Justice, March 26, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-army-national-guard-soldier-and-his-cousin-arrested-conspiring-support-terrorism-isil. Hasan pled guilty in December 2015 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison on September 20, 2016.Jason Meisner, “National Guard member and cousin given long prison terms for terror plot,” Chicago Tribune, September 20, 2016, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-terror-plot-joliet-armory-met-20160920-story.html.

The FBI grew suspicious of Edmonds in 2014 and subsequently sent him a friend request on Facebook.“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf. Through Facebook, Edmonds and an undercover FBI agent began a series of conversations about joining ISIS and planning domestic attacks.“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf. According to the FBI, Edmonds used his military access and knowledge to plan an attack on a nearby military installation.“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf. He had also allegedly planned to use his military training to fight for ISIS overseas.“US Army National Guard Soldier and His Cousin Arrested for Conspiring to Support Terrorism (ISIL),” U.S. Department of Justice, March 26, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-army-national-guard-soldier-and-his-cousin-arrested-conspiring-support-terrorism-isil.

Edmonds and his cousin were arrested before an attack took place. The pair initially pled not guilty in April 2015,Jon Seidel, “Aurora men accused of plot to join ISIL plead not guilty,” Chicago Sun-Times, April 8, 2015, http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/509447/aurora-men-accused-plot-join-isil-plead-guilty. but switched to a guilty plea in December of that year.“Aurora Cousins Face Sentencing For Terror Plot on Guard Base,” CBS Chicago, September 20, 2016, http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/09/20/aurora-cousins-face-sentencing-for-terror-plot-on-guard-base/. On September 20, 2016, Edmonds was sentenced to 30 years in prison. His cousin, Jonas Edmonds, received a 21-year sentence.Jason Meisner, “National Guard member and cousin given long prison terms for terror plot,” Chicago Tribune, September 20, 2016, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-terror-plot-joliet-armory-met-20160920-story.html.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
ISIS
Read Threat Report
Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
Position(s):
Foreign fighter, aspiring lone-wolf attacker, 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

Jan. 30, 2015

Conversation with undercover FBI agent:

“If the ameer command a target here we will follow...Now brother if you have any contacts with any commanders let them know we are in the process of organizing. [ . . . ] Its a little slower here cause of security and spies but we are on it. Oaths have been given. When the time is right we will strike. If the dawlah has any high let us know so we can link in with them inshaAllah. [sic]”“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf.

Jan. 30, 2015

Conversation with undercover FBI agent:

“In all honesty the best way to bet them is to break their will. With the U.S. no matter how many you kill they will keep coming unless the soldiers and the american public no longer have the will to fight.”“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf.

Jan. 30, 2015

Conversation with undercover FBI agent:

“If we can break their spirits we will win. Whenever we attack them instead of killing them all try to take a few as prisioners for either ransom or to show the world the hours the kufar army will suffer at the hands of the lions of Allah. [sic]”“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf.

Jan. 27, 2015

Conversation with undercover FBI agent:

“It would be hard to pull off a lager scale attack on the government but police stations and courts are pretty easy and its been done before by kufar sometimes just one person. [sic]”“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf.

Jan. 27, 2015

Conversation with undercover FBI agent:

“If this happens the way we want insha Allah we'll all be there if not though my sahaba [“companion”] will put the fear of Allah in their hearts and minds right here in the homeland.”“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf.

Jan. 24, 2015

Conversation with undercover FBI agent:

“Not be easy but i'd rather struggle and strive hard in the cause of Allah rather than sit back and live a 'comfortable' life. And what you say is true brother but the banners are up. The State has been established and it is our duty to heed the call. InshaAllah we will complete our task or be granted shahada1 1 trying. And yes I look forward to the training. I am already in the american kafir 1 2 army (back when I was still in this dunyah1 3 and not muslim) and now I wish only to serve in the army of Allah alongside my true brothers.”“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf.

Jan. 20, 2015

Facebook message to an undercover FBI agent:

“I wish to go to Dawlah akhi. I would love to study at in Islamic university but my first mission is simply to show up and be accountable on judgement day in front of our Lord.” (Facebook)“United States of America v. Hasan Edmonds and Jonas M. Edmonds,” U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, March 25, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/26/edmonds_complaint_0.pdf.

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Daily Dose

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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