© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dayton Resident Accused of Attempting to Join ISIS

photo of Laith Waleed Alebbini
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

A Dayton man is in custody after authorities say he was planning to join ISIS in Syria.

Federal prosecutors accuse 26-year-old Laith Alebbini with attempting to travel to Syria to fight with the Islamic State group. He was arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Daytonon one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization.

U.S. Attorney Ben Glassman says Alebbini faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

"According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Alebbini had said that he would be the perfect recruit for ISIS," says Ben Glassman, for the Southern District of Ohio. "That was something that he said several months ago and the FBI has been following him since."

Glassman says Alebbini is a Jordanian citizen with permanent U.S. legal status.

He was arrested Wednesday at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport where he had plane ticket to fly to Jordan via Turkey.