Since President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party took command of the United States on January 20, 2021, cases of domestic Islamic extremism have spread to at least 29 states across the country. Between April 2021 and September 2024, more than 50 incidents related to extremist and terrorist activities were recorded, highlighting a growing and persistent threat to American national security.
This conclusion is part of a survey carried out by the Homeland Security Committee of the US House of Representatives, which published a detailed report earlier this month showing the increase in terrorist threats both foreign extremist networks and domestic “jihadists” operating on American soil. The figures draw attention to the growth of violent extremism, inspired by terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State (IS), Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda.
According to the report, the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, ordered by Biden in August 2021, may have exacerbated the situation. The unsuccessful operation, which ended two decades of American military presence in the country, culminated in a terrorist attack at Kabul airport, claimed by the Islamic State of Khorasan, or ISIS-K (an offshoot of the Islamic State). The attack left 13 American military personnel and more than 170 Afghan civilians dead, reinforcing warnings about the return of global threats from terrorist groups. Furthermore, the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, which caused the deaths of around 1,200 people, also served as a global warning about the increase in Islamic extremism violence.
Cases of domestic Islamic extremism in the US identified in the report range from attempted terrorist attacks to providing material support to terrorist organizations. The largest concentration of these incidents is in the states of California, New York and Virginia, but the phenomenon has spread from coast to coast, affecting communities in several locations. Among the documented actions, plotters who planned attacks on American soil or tried to recruit and finance groups such as the Islamic State stand out.
These extremists, often considered “lone wolves”, often use the internet as their main means of radicalization and recruitment, which makes it difficult for authorities to track them. Some of these individuals also attempt to use financial fraud to raise funds on behalf of terrorist and extremist organizations.
Among the cases highlighted in the report is that of Asif Merchant, a Pakistani citizen who, according to American authorities, had close ties to Iran. Merchant was arrested in the USA last September on charges of conspiring to assassinate a local politician who did not his name was published.
“Merchant orchestrated a plan to assassinate politicians and U.S. government officials,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace.
Another case mentioned was that of Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, another Pakistani who was arrested in Canada in September, after American authorities discovered that he was orchestrating a terrorist attack plan in New York in support of the Islamic State.
The report also cited the case of Benjamin Carpenter, a Tennessee citizen who in July was sentenced to 20 years in prison for providing material support to the Islamic State and promoting acts of violence against American soldiers on the internet, as well as spreading terrorist propaganda.
In the state of Kentucky, a man of Turkish nationality was also convicted of providing material support to the Islamic State and receiving military training from the terrorist organization. In New Jersey, the report cites the case of an American who was sentenced for training with Hezbollah and participating in fraudulent activities. In New York, some citizens of the Muslim community were prosecuted for terrorist plots and logistical support for the Islamic State, including the use of cryptocurrencies to finance terrorist activities.
In Las Vegas (Nevada), in November 2023, a 16-year-old teenager, Joshua Robles, was arrested on charges of planning a terrorist attack in support of the Islamic State. According to information in the report, the young man had components and instructions to manufacture an explosive device.
In New York, the report cited the case of Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, an American citizen who was sentenced to life in prison for also providing material support to the Islamic State. Asainov reportedly not only provided material support but also helped recruit and train new members for the terrorist group.
In Ohio, a 22-year-old man, Cole Bridges, was arrested for trying to help the Islamic State carry out a terrorist attack against American troops in the Middle East. In Texas, state-born Kaan Sercan Damlarkaya was sentenced to 13 years in prison for planning a terrorist attack on American soil if he failed to join the Islamic State abroad.
A significant number of terrorism convictions also occurred in states such as Michigan, Minnesota and New Jersey, reinforcing concerns about the presence of terrorist cells in various parts of the country.
The relationship between foreign and domestic terrorists has been a source of increasing concern for American law enforcement agencies. The report from the US House Homeland Security Committee also details concerns about the uncontrolled entry of immigrants into the country.
According to the document, weaknesses in the Biden administration’s immigration policies are being exploited by criminal networks that have a partnership with the Islamic State. The report cites that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified more than 400 individuals who entered the country illegally and have connections to terrorist cells. In a recent case, eight citizens of Tajikistan were detained in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, accused of being part of a criminal network linked to the Islamic State.
Growth of international threats
Terrorist threats are not limited to the United States. In Europe, for example, the report cites that security forces continue to deal with dozens of cases related to the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. Since 2023, at least 158 arrests, terrorist plots or direct attacks linked to the Islamic State have been recorded in countries including France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
This reality demonstrates that although terrorist groups like the Islamic State have lost physical territories in the Middle East, their ability to inspire attacks and gain followers in the West remains robust. The use of social media, encrypted applications and other technologies has allowed these groups to continue to expand their global influence, fostering a new generation of extremists willing to act both locally and internationally.
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Mark Green, of the Republican Party, said that the current terrorist threat landscape is “blinking red” again in the United States, just as was observed before the attacks of September 11, 2001. According to the Daily SignalGreen criticized the Biden administration for its “weak leadership” in the world and the failure to admit the flaws in its policies that contributed to this growing threat scenario.
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