JERUSALEM (JTA) — Seven North Carolina residents were charged with plotting to commit terrorist attacks around the world, including in Israel.
Federal prosecutors charged six American citizens and one foreign national in an indictment unsealed Monday.
The group’s leader, Daniel Boyd, a convert to Islam, reportedly trained in terrorist camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Three years ago he began recruiting men, including sons Zakariya and Dylan, to wage jihad, or holy war.
The group had amassed a large cache of weapons and held training exercises in North Carolina, which tipped off federal officials, the Washington Post reported.
Several of the men traveled to Israel, the Gaza Strip and Jordan in 2006 and 2007. In Israel in 2007, they reportedly intended to engage in "violent jihad" but did not do any fighting. Some of the men also went to Pakistan and Kosovo.
Boyd also is charged with lying to customs and FBI agents about the purpose of his visit to Israel.
Besides the Boyds, the others charged are identified in court papers as Hysen Sherifi, Anes Subasic, Mohammad Omar Aly Hassan and Ziyad Yaghi. They were charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad. Some also face weapons charges.
The men face life in prison if convicted.
