Man Indicted for Providing Support to Terrorists

A Minneapolis man was charged with three terrorism-related counts into the recruitment of Minnesota Somalis to fight in Somalia.

Omer Abdi Mohamed, also known as "Brother Ali," 24, has been under investigation for several months for alleged activity starting in 2007.

Prosecutors say Mohamed helped provide money and personnel for the Al Qaeda-linked group Al Shabab, which now controls most of Somali. In the indictment, they connect him to a half-dozen other co-conspirators.

Among those was Shirwa Ahmed, the Minneapolis man, who became the first American suicide bomber in Somalia 13 months ago. Mohamed is also connected to Abdifatah Isse, a student at Normandale College and Salah Ahmed, a security guard from Brooklyn Park.

Both men traveled to Somalia two years ago to fight in the war and were arrested when they returned to the U.S.

Mohamed had been in the U.S. for 13 years and was a naturalized U.S. citizen. Until recently, he worked as an employment counselor at Capi, an agency on East Lake Street that helps new immigrants.

Somali Community spokesperson released a statement on the arrest.

"Somali government will work with U.S. law enforcement to bring to end recruitment, and urge the Somali community to collaborate with Law enforcement," said Omar Jamal, First Secretary of Somali mission at the United Nation, New York.

If convicted, Mohamed faces a potential maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on count one, 15 years in prison on count two, and life in prison on count three.