Two men living outside Washington D.C., were arrested Friday for allegedly trying to join the Islamic State, the Justice Department announced Saturday.
Joseph Hassan Farrokh, 28, and Amin Mohamed Elhassan, 25, of Woodbridge, Va., an outer D.C.-suburb, were arrested Friday, the department said.
Farookh was arrested Friday at Richmond International Airport for attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Farookh is an American citizen who authorities allege attempted to travel from Richmond to Jordan with the intention of then traveling to Syria and joining Islamic State forces.
Prosecutors also allege that attempt would not have been possible without Elhassan, a legal resident but not a full U.S. citizen.
The U.S. alleges that Elhassan made the necessary connections and introductions for Farookh’s planned journey and defection to the Islamic State.
