The FBI announced the arrest of Mahmoud Amin Ya-qub Al-Muhtadi, 33, a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, who is suspected of allegedly participating in Hamas’ terrorist attacks on civilians in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The affidavit accuses Al-Muhtadi of violating federal law by providing, attempting to provide, or conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization through his alleged involvement in the Oct. 7 attack.
Al-Muhtadi is also accused of fraud and misuse of visa, permits and other documents.
Al-Muhtadi is accused of being part of the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which carried out one of a series of terrorist attacks on Israel that killed over 1,200 people. Cell phone records pinged Al-Muhtadi’s phone at a cell tower in Kfar Aza, the site of one of the attacks.
Prosecutors also obtained recorded calls that allegedly show Al-Muhtadi used that phone to organize a group to participate in the attack. Approximately 60 people were killed and 19 others kidnapped in that attack.
He is also alleged to have falsified the application for a visa to enter the United States. Officials said he was living and working in Lafayette.
As a result of that false application, Al-Muhtadi was able to obtain permission to travel to the United States and obtain Legal Permanent Resident status. Al-Muhtadi is currently residing and working in Lafayette, Louisiana.
The complaint was filed Oct. 6 under seal in federal court in Lafayette and unsealed on Thursday. It includes extensive reported examples of photos, social media posts, and recorded calls of Al-Muhtadi discussing his involvement with terrorist organizations tied to the attack.
From the complaint:
6. As detailed below, Al-Muhtadi is an operative for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s (“DFLP”) military wing, the National Resistance Brigades (“NRB”, also known as the “Martyr Umar al-Qasim Forces”), a Gaza-based paramilitary group that participated in the Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.
Evidence shows that on the morning of October 7, 2023, Al-Muhtadi learned about the Hamas invasion, armed himself, gathered others, and crossed into Israel with the intention of assisting in Hamas’s terrorist attack. Evidence shows that Al-Muhtadi’s phone utilized a cell tower located near Kibbutz Kfar Aza in Israel, the location of a horrifying massacre by Harnas and its supporters.
Evidence further shows that Al-Muhtadi provided false information in his U.S. Visa application relating to his involvement with a paramilitary organization, connection to Harnas, participation in a terrorist attack, and military training.
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84. As detailed above, Al-Muhtadi is a DFLP operative who, on the morning of October 7, 2023, learned about the Hamas invasion, heard Hamas’s call to arms, armed himself, gathered others, and crossed into Israel with the intent to assist in Hamas’s terrorist attack. Evidence further shows that Al-Muhtadi provided false information in his U.S. Visa application relating to his involvement with a paramilitary organization, connection to NRB, connection to Hamas, participation in a terrorist attack, and military training.
85. Based upon the facts set forth above, your affiant believes that probable cause exists to show that Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi violated Title 18 United States Code § 2339B and 18 United States Code§ 1546(a). Due to these facts, I request an arrest warrant be issued for Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi.