A former U.S. Army soldier from Laurel has been accused of trying to help the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab. Craig Baxam, 24, attempted to travel to Somalia last month to give money to the terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Greenbelt. Baxam was arrested by Kenyan authorities on Dec. 23 with the $600 to $700 he planned to give al-Shabaab as an initial offering, the complaint says.
Baxam joined the Army in 2007. Shortly before he left the Army in July 2011, he converted to Islam, court documents say.
Baxam told Kenyan police that he was “looking for dying with a gun in my hand” and would willingly die to defend Islam, according to the complaint. Baxam also said that if he were living with al-Shabaab or the Taliban and the U.S. military invaded, he would fight against the United States.
— Emily Babay
