Who is Sohaib Abuayyash? Houston man charged with illegally owning firearms expressed 'support for killing Jews'
HOUSTON, TEXAS: A Jordanian national, Sohaib Abuayyash, residing in Texas, has been apprehended under grave allegations of unlawful possession of firearms and a purported plan to target Jewish individuals, as per Daily Mail.
FBI director: Man arrested in Houston supports killing Jews and studied how to build bombs; FBI agents arrested Sohaib Abuayyash, 20, earlier this month. @MattKHOU https://t.co/LKevLZUwS6
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) October 31, 2023
Sohaib Abuayyash behind bars for unlawful possession of firearm
Abuayyash, a 20-year-old Jordanian, found himself behind bars on October 19 in Houston, facing charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm.
FBI Director Chris Wray, addressing Congress, dropped a bombshell when he disclosed that Abuayyash had not only acquired firearms illegally but had also been engaged in acquiring knowledge about bomb-making and publicly expressed support for violence against Jews.
Director Wray stated emphatically, "He has viewed specific and detailed content posted by radical organizations on the internet, including lessons on how to construct bombs or explosive devices."
"And that defendant has made statements to others that support the killing of individuals of particular religious faiths," he added.
Sohaib Abuayyash openly discussed martyrdom in a religious cause
According to court documents, Abuayyash openly discussed martyrdom in the context of a religious cause. US Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan, who presided over the case, noted that he had accessed explicit content from radical organizations on the internet, further deepening the concerns about his intentions.
Judge Bryan made a significant decision, ordering Abuayyash's detention pending a trial after a sealed hearing on the case. These measures underscore the seriousness of the allegations against him.
Abuayyash had initially entered the US on a non-immigrant visa that expired in 2019, but he later applied for asylum and secured work authorization until 2025. To make matters even more disturbing, he stands accused of flaunting images and videos on his social media platforms, showing him in possession of firearms.
While he argued that these guns were merely airsoft, the FBI, upon thorough investigation, contested his claim.
Investigators discovered that Abuayyash and others had visited various firing ranges, with security camera footage from one facility revealing him and an unidentified individual handling multiple rifles and pistols. This visual evidence strengthens the case against him.
FBI Director Christopher Wray warns Hamas attacks could inspire acts of violence
Director Wray's testimony before Congress did not stop at Abuayyash's arrest. He warned that the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel had the potential to inspire acts of violence worldwide.
He emphasized, "We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven't seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate years ago." The war in Gaza, according to Wray, has elevated the threat level for potential attacks against Americans in the United States.
While he clarified that the FBI had no information indicating that Hamas had the intent or capability to conduct operations within the US, he did not dismiss the possibility entirely. Recent weeks have seen various foreign terrorist organizations calling for attacks on Americans and the Western world.
Wray cited alarming developments, with Al-Qaeda issuing a specific call to attack the US, Hezbollah threatening to target US interests in the Middle East, and ISIS seeking to exploit the situation and mobilize its supporters.
Wray also pointed out a surge in hate crimes against the Jewish community across the United States and globally, describing them as "uniquely targeted by pretty much every terrorist organization across the spectrum." He stressed the need for collective efforts to address the issue.