Cameron Knight

cknight@enquirer.com

A man was arrested Wednesday evening at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport after authorities say he attempted to travel to Syria to fight with ISIS.

Laith Waleed Alebbini, 26, of Dayton, Ohio was taken into custody by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The complaint against Alebbini, filed in U.S. District Court, states he attempted to travel to Syria via a flight to Turkey or Jordan in order to fight with ISIS against Syrian leadership.

Alebbini has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization.

The FBI states Alebbini is a citizen of Jordan, a became a legal permanent resident of the United States in April 2014, and first traveled to the U.S. in July 2011.

A sworn affidavit from FBI investigators states Alebbini was arrested Jan. 10 for unlawfully entering the Turkish embassy in Washington D.C., but the charges were later dropped.

Two days later, Alebbini tried to travel to Turkey via Amsterdam, but was denied entry because his Jordanian passport had expired, officials said. He returned to the U.S. on Jan. 15.

On Jan. 23, the FBI states Alebbini was interviewed about the incident at the Turkish embassy.

During the interview, Alebbini allegedly admitted to posting pro-ISIS videos on Facebook and to supporting ISIS's desire for a united Middle East.

He allegedly said during the interview that "I am the perfect recruit for ISIS," but said he did not agree with their violence, according to court documents.

He said his reason for going to the embassy was to discuss the conflict in the Middle East with the Turkish Ambassador, the documents state.

"Alebbini said the security at the embassy was very lax, and that 'if I had on bomb on me, I swear to God, three embassies would have done down,'" investigators reported in the affidavit.

But Alebbini was not jailed after those conversations with the FBI.

Investigators state he moved to Dayton March 1 to live with a woman he claimed was his wife.

Two days after moving to Dayton, a "confidential human source" began speaking with Alebbini, according to court documents.

The FBI stated the source was a previously convicted felon who has served a sentence for weapons and wire fraud offenses.

"The [source] hopes to receive immigration-related benefits for his/her cooperation," the FBI stated in an affidavit.

The FBI said it paid the source $3,500 during the course of the investigation into Alebbini. The agency stated it had previously paid the source $15,000 during other cases.

During recorded conversations with the source, the FBI states Alebbini made several pro-ISIS statements and expressed support for some of their violent acts.

"The best choice is the Islamic State, best choice for the Muslims," Alebbini allegedly said.

On March 29, the day after one of Alebbini's friends was reportedly arrested in Jordan, he told the source he planned to travel to Washington D.C. then Jordan and Syria to fight with ISIS, according to the affidavit.

The FBI states Alebbini said his family knew that he wanted to join ISIS, but did not support him, so they took away his passport.

"Alebbini stated that even if he joins Al-Dawlah (ISIS) and only fires a couple shots before he is killed, it would be good, because he would be inciting the faithful," court documents state.

On April 15, Alebbini contacted the FBI to ask if he was able to travel overseas. The FBI reportedly told him the Turkish embassy investigation did not bar him from traveling.

After discussing his desires, the source with FBI approval gave both Alebbini and his female partner $1,500 to purchase tickets from Cincinnati to Chicago then on to Turkey and Jordan, according to court documents.

The FBI said they learned Alebbini had purchased the tickets on Monday. He was apprehended before he entered the TSA security lines at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

Alebbini appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Newman at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in U.S. District Court in Dayton. Federal attorneys are requesting that Alebbini be detained during the duration of his trial.