The Extremism Roundup

Islamist Extremism

Omar Shehada, the Palestinian terror suspect caught at the New Mexico Border - NY Post video screenshot

Palestinian Terror Suspect Caught at New Mexico Border

• A Palestinian migrant whose name appears on a terror watchlist for allegedly previously using “explosives/firearms” was caught at the southern border.

• Border Patrol agents caught Omar Shehada, 35, at the border in Santa Teresa, N.M., according to a leaked memo obtained by The New York Post.

• This arrest comes just weeks after three other suspected Palestinian terrorists were caught at the California border.

• Following the Oct. 7 terror attack, the Border Patrol sent out a memo to its agents warning about Palestinian terrorists potentially coming across the border. Read More

Two Men Plead Guilty to Plotting to Join ISIS

• Two men, Ahmad and Aadam Bawazier, both from Tucson, pleaded guilty to plotting to join ISIS.

• The two were arrested in 2020 at Tucson International Airport while trying to travel to Egypt and then to Syria to join the terrorist group.

• Both men admitted to communicating with ISIS members online and expressing their intent to support the organization.

• Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, with potential penalties including up to 20 years in prison. Read More

Pakistani National Charged in Connection to Assassination Plot

• Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national with ties to Iran, was charged with plotting to assassinate a U.S. politician or government official.

• He allegedly conspired with an undercover FBI agent posing as a hitman, planning the assassination after traveling from Pakistan to the U.S.

• The plot included stealing documents and organizing protests. Merchant was arrested before leaving the U.S. Read More

  Hate Crime

Screenshot of a surveillance video, before the lone man in the sweatshirt stabbed one of the Jewish men in a white shirt - Holygems and Crown Heights Shmira via New York Times screenshot

Jewish Man Stabbed by Attacker Shouting ‘Free Palestine’

• A Jewish man was stabbed in Brooklyn by an attacker shouting "Free Palestine."

• The attack happened in the Midwood neighborhood, known for its large Jewish community.

• Vincent Sumpter, a 22-year-old Brooklyn man, was arrested and is facing hate crime charges, with the incident under investigation by the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force.

• The victim was hospitalized and is in stable condition. Read More

Man Sentenced to Hate Crime Assault on Postal Worker

• Wesley Hawkins, a South Florida man, was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for a hate crime assault on a postal worker.

• The assault, which occurred in Miami-Dade County, involved Hawkins ripping off the victim’s hijab and yelling “F*** Islam.” Read More

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations

A cargo vessel sailing near the northern coast of the Persian Gulf in Bushehr, Iran's first nuclear seaport city, April 28, 2024 - Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Three Indicted for Providing Material Support to Iran’s WMD Program

• Two Iranian nationals, Shahab and Yunus Mir’kazei, and a Pakistani national, Muhammad Pahlawan, were indicted for providing material support to Iran's weapons of mass destruction program.
• Pahlawan, allegedly captain of a smuggling vessel, worked with the Mir’kazei brothers, linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
• The vessel was intercepted by U.S. forces, revealing Iranian-made weapons.
• All defendants face life imprisonment if convicted. Read More

New York Resident Convicted of Acting As Covert Chinese Agent

• Shujun Wang, 75, a New York resident, was convicted of acting as a covert agent for China. An academic and pro-democracy advocate, Wang secretly reported information about dissidents to China's Ministry of State Security.

• Wang gathered intelligence on Hong Kong protestors, advocates for Taiwanese independence, and Uyghur and Tibetan activists.

• Wang faces up to 25 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for January 2025. Read More

QUOTABLE 

“Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments."

- Alexander Hamilton

NOTE TO OUR READERS: We have pulled out the salient points of the articles in this newsletter to keep you informed and focused on the most relevant, important and timely news in national security and extremism. While our national security experts stand behind the summary bullets and deem them trustworthy, Clarion Project does not endorse all the views expressed in the articles linked.