Mirsad Kandic was a Kosovo-born U.S. legal permanent resident who traveled from New York to Istanbul, Turkey, in 2013 to work as a recruiter for ISIS. In this role, he made arrangements for foreign fighters from around the world to travel to Iraq and Syria to join ISIS, including Australian teenager Jake Bilardi who carried out a suicide attack in March 2015. Kandic also worked for the terrorist group’s media arm, managing more than 100 propaganda accounts on Twitter.“New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states. Kandic relocated to Bosnia in January 2017, where he went into hiding, and was arrested by Bosnian authorities in July.Brendan Pierson, “Former Brooklyn resident charged in U.S. with aiding Islamic State,” Reuters, November 1, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-islamic-state/former-brooklyn-resident-charged-in-u-s-with-aiding-islamic-state-idUSKBN1D15L4; “Mektić o hapšenju u Sarajevu: Saradnik ISIL-a koristio deset identiteta,” Al Jazeera Balkans, November 1, 2017, http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/mektic-o-hapsenju-u-sarajevu-saradnik-isil-koristio-deset-identiteta. He was charged with one count of conspiracy and five counts of providing material support to a terrorist organization by a Brooklyn federal court in August and extradited to the United States on October 31 to await trial.Brendan Pierson, “Former Brooklyn resident charged in U.S. with aiding Islamic State,” Reuters, November 1, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-islamic-state/former-brooklyn-resident-charged-in-u-s-with-aiding-islamic-state-idUSKBN1D15L4; “United States of America v. Mirsad Kandic,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 27, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1008001/download.

Kandic was born in Kosovo in 1981.“Mektić o hapšenju u Sarajevu: Saradnik ISIL-a koristio deset identiteta,” Al Jazeera Balkans, November 1, 2017, http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/mektic-o-hapsenju-u-sarajevu-saradnik-isil-koristio-deset-identiteta. Sometime before 2005, he immigrated to the United States, where he became a legal permanent resident and resided in the Bronx and Brooklyn, New York. In 2005, Kandic reportedly expressed a desire to travel to the Middle East and wage violent jihad against U.S. military forces. He was placed on the U.S. no-fly list.“United States of America v. Mirsad Kandic,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 27, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1008001/download; “New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states; Emily Saul, “Brooklyn-man-turned-ISIS propagandist extradited to US,” New York Post, November 1, 2017, http://nypost.com/2017/11/01/brooklyn-man-turned-isis-%E2%80%8Bpropagandist-extradited-to-us/.

Kandic traveled to Istanbul, Turkey in December 2013, reportedly using fake documents to circumvent his designation on the no-fly list.“Ex-New Yorker accused of trying to recruit for ISIS,” CBS News, November 1, 2017, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-new-yorker-accused-of-trying-to-recruit-for-isis/; “New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states. He joined ISIS and worked for the group from Turkey. In his primary role as recruiter, Kandic communicated with potential foreign fighter recruits and helped them arrange documentation and travel plans so that they could travel to Iraq and Syria and join ISIS. Kandic allegedly recruited individuals from around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.Brendan Pierson, “Former Brooklyn resident charged in U.S. with aiding Islamic State,” Reuters, November 1, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-islamic-state/former-brooklyn-resident-charged-in-u-s-with-aiding-islamic-state-idUSKBN1D15L4; “United States of America v. Mirsad Kandic,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 27, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1008001/download; “New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states. In a recorded voice memo to an ISIS associate, Kandic reportedly stated that he recruited over 20,000 individuals in total.“New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states. One of Kandic’s recruits was Jake Bilardi, an Australian teenager known as “Jihadi Jake” who traveled to the Middle East in August 2014. Kandic helped Bilardi arrange his travel from Melbourne to Istanbul, and also encouraged him to carry out a suicide attack, stating that he hoped that his organs would “implode.” After Bilardi carried out a suicide attack in Ramadi, Iraq, on March 11, 2015, Kandic publicized the attack on Twitter.Brendan Pierson, “Former Brooklyn resident charged in U.S. with aiding Islamic State,” Reuters, November 1, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-islamic-state/former-brooklyn-resident-charged-in-u-s-with-aiding-islamic-state-idUSKBN1D15L4; “New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states; Jared Owens and Paul Maley, “Aussie teen Jake Bilardi carries out suicide bombing says Islamic State,” Australian (Surry Hills), March 12, 2015, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/aussie-teen-jake-bilardi-carries-out-suicide-bombing-says-islamic-state/news-story/bafd57d595452aa84600ece89fe98043.

Kandic also managed some of ISIS’s social media accounts and propagandized on behalf of the group. He controlled more than 100 Twitter accounts through which he provided updates about ISIS’s attacks and territorial gains.“New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states. He also expressed praise for major ISIS-claimed terror attacks around the world, including the May 2015 shooting in Garland, Texas, and the November 2015 Paris attacks.Emily Saul, “Brooklyn-man-turned-ISIS propagandist extradited to US,” New York Post, November 1, 2017, http://nypost.com/2017/11/01/brooklyn-man-turned-isis-%E2%80%8Bpropagandist-extradited-to-us/. Kandic reportedly also used WhatsApp to communicate with high-ranking ISIS officials.“OPASNI SARADNIK ISIL-A IZRUČEN SAD-u: Teroristički logističar skrivao se pola godine na Grbavici!” Oslobođenje (Sarajevo), October 31, 2017, https://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/opasni-saradnik-isil-a-izrucen-sad-u-teroristicki-logisticar-skrivao-se-pola-godine-na-grbavici. In one online communication, Kandic stated that he worked in ISIS’s Border Office in Turkey and helped to conduct background checks of foreign fighter recruits. He also stated that he frequently traveled into ISIS territory, including ISIS’s de facto capital of Raqqa, Syria, for his work.“New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states. According to Bosnian Minister of Security Dragan Mektić, Kandic also oversaw weapons supply and was the head of ISIS’s intelligence service.“Mektić o hapšenju u Sarajevu: Saradnik ISIL-a koristio deset identiteta,” Al Jazeera Balkans, November 1, 2017, http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/mektic-o-hapsenju-u-sarajevu-saradnik-isil-koristio-deset-identiteta.

The United States issued a warrant for Kandic’s arrest in 2014, and an Interpol Red Notice was issued for his arrest in 2016.“SAD: Mirsad Kandić optužen za pomaganje ISIL-u,” Al Jazeera Balkans, November 2, 2017, http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/sad-mirsad-kandic-optuzen-za-pomaganje-isil-u. In January 2017, Kandic relocated to Bosnia, entering the country under the alias “Ivan Popović.”Brendan Pierson, “Former Brooklyn resident charged in U.S. with aiding Islamic State,” Reuters, November 1, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-islamic-state/former-brooklyn-resident-charged-in-u-s-with-aiding-islamic-state-idUSKBN1D15L4; “Mektić o hapšenju u Sarajevu: Saradnik ISIL-a koristio deset identiteta,” Al Jazeera Balkans, November 1, 2017, http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/mektic-o-hapsenju-u-sarajevu-saradnik-isil-koristio-deset-identiteta. According to Bosnian Minister of Security Mektić, Kandic had at least ten false identities. Once in Bosnia, Kandic went into hiding under the alias “Edin Radončić.”“Mektić o hapšenju u Sarajevu: Saradnik ISIL-a koristio deset identiteta,” Al Jazeera Balkans, November 1, 2017, http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/mektic-o-hapsenju-u-sarajevu-saradnik-isil-koristio-deset-identiteta. However, after a transmission on his mobile phone alerted Bosnian authorities of his presence in the country in January, they immediately launched a search for him.“OPASNI SARADNIK ISIL-A IZRUČEN SAD-u: Teroristički logističar skrivao se pola godine na Grbavici!” Oslobođenje (Sarajevo), October 31, 2017, https://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/opasni-saradnik-isil-a-izrucen-sad-u-teroristicki-logisticar-skrivao-se-pola-godine-na-grbavici. Bosnia’s State Investigation and Protection Agency discovered his location in Sarajevo on July 4 and arrested him shortly afterward.“Mektić o hapšenju u Sarajevu: Saradnik ISIL-a koristio deset identiteta,” Al Jazeera Balkans, November 1, 2017, http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/mektic-o-hapsenju-u-sarajevu-saradnik-isil-koristio-deset-identiteta. On August 17, a federal court in Brooklyn charged him with one count of conspiracy and five counts of providing material support to a terrorist organization, which carry the possibility of a life prison sentence if convicted.“United States of America v. Mirsad Kandic,” U.S. Department of Justice, August 27, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1008001/download; “New York Resident Charged With Providing Material Support to ISIS, Extradited to United States,” U.S. Department of Justice, November 1, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-resident-charged-providing-material-support-isis-extradited-united-states; “Ex-New Yorker accused of trying to recruit for ISIS,” CBS News, November 1, 2017, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-new-yorker-accused-of-trying-to-recruit-for-isis/. Kandic was extradited to the United States on October 31, and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him the following day in Brooklyn federal court.Brendan Pierson, “Former Brooklyn resident charged in U.S. with aiding Islamic State,” Reuters, November 1, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-islamic-state/former-brooklyn-resident-charged-in-u-s-with-aiding-islamic-state-idUSKBN1D15L4.

Sayf Abdulrah Salem al-Hayashi is a weapons dealer for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). He has also coordinated and financed AQAP operations and provided financial support to senior members of the group. Additionally, he has previously worked on behalf of ISIS’s affiliate in Yemen.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx. He was designated as a terrorist by the United States and six Gulf countries in October 2017.Thomas Joscelyn, “US and Gulf nations sanction 8 jihadists in Yemen,” Long War Journal, October 25, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/us-and-gulf-nations-sanction-8-jihadists-in-yemen.php.

Hayashi was born in January 1978 and is a Yemeni citizen. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, he presently resides in the city of Azzan in Yemen’s Abyan Governorate.“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx.

In 1994, Hayashi moved from Yemen’s al-Bayda Governorate to the city of Azzan in Abyan Governorate.“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx; “Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx. He remained in Azzan for the next ten years, where he worked as a weapons dealer.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx. In 2005, he and a business partner opened a money exchange office next to a store where they sold weapons. They also began dealing drugs and other illicit items and expanded their contraband business to other areas of Yemen, including the cities of Mukalla and Sanaa.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.

In mid-2015, Hayashi facilitated a weapons deal for ISIS’s Yemeni affiliate, which was established in late 2014.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.

As of 2016, Hayashi served as a weapons dealer for AQAP, coordinating and financing shipments of weapons for the group’s leaders. He also reportedly traveled across Yemen to meet with senior AQAP leaders and manage their finances. Hayashi also helped finance the group’s operations in the country himself.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.

On October 25, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury named Hayashi a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for providing support or services to AQAP.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx. Several Gulf countries also belonging to the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, a coalition of nations established in May 2017, also agreed to impose similar sanctions against Hayashi on the same date. These countries included Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Thomas Joscelyn, “US and Gulf nations sanction 8 jihadists in Yemen,” Long War Journal, October 25, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/us-and-gulf-nations-sanction-8-jihadists-in-yemen.php.

In addition to his illicit business enterprises, Hayashi also owns the branches of the Al Khayr Supermarket in Yemen located in the cities of Azzan and Fuwwah. Due to its affiliation with Hayashi, the Al Khayr Supermarket was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity on October 25, 2017, by all of the same countries that designated Hayashi as a terrorist.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.

Khalid Sa’id Ghabish al-Ubaydi is a senior member of ISIS’s affiliate in Yemen. He has served as a recruiter, weapons smuggler, and leader of ISIS in Yemen’s al-Mahrah and Hadramawt Governorates.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx. He was designated as a terrorist by the United States and six Gulf countries in October 2017.Thomas Joscelyn, “US and Gulf nations sanction 8 jihadists in Yemen,” Long War Journal, October 25, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/us-and-gulf-nations-sanction-8-jihadists-in-yemen.php.

Ubaydi was born sometime between 1984 and 1986 in the United Arab Emirates.“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx; “Saudi Arabia adds 11 Qaeda, ISIS-linked Yemenis on terror list,” Al Arabiya English, October 25, 2017, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/10/25/Saudi-State-Security-lists-two-entities-and-eleven-names-supporting-al-Qaeda-ISIS.html. He joined ISIS’s affiliate in Yemen sometime after the group was established in November 2014 and held various important positions. In 2014, he worked to recruit youths to join ISIS in Yemen. By late 2016, he was one of the most senior members of the terror group in the city of Al Ghaydah in Yemen’s al-Mahrah Governorate. He also served as an ISIS leader in Yemen’s Hadramawt Governorate. In early 2017, he was known to work as weapons smuggler for ISIS in Yemen, securing and transporting weapons shipments to secret storage locations in the country.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.

On October 25, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury named Ubaydi a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for acting for or on behalf of ISIS in Yemen.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx. Several Gulf countries also belonging to the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, a coalition of nations established in May 2017, also agreed to impose similar sanctions against Ubaydi on the same date. These countries included Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Thomas Joscelyn, “US and Gulf nations sanction 8 jihadists in Yemen,” Long War Journal, October 25, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/us-and-gulf-nations-sanction-8-jihadists-in-yemen.php.

Khalid al-Marfadi is a military leader for ISIS’s affiliate in Yemen. Prior, he was the leader of ISIS in the district of Yafa in Yemen’s Lahij Governorate, where he also worked to recruit and train ISIS militants. He has been involved in many of the group’s operations and has worked to plan, prepare, and direct ISIS attacks in Yemen.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx. He was designated as a terrorist by the United States and six Gulf countries in October 2017.Thomas Joscelyn, “US and Gulf nations sanction 8 jihadists in Yemen,” Long War Journal, October 25, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/us-and-gulf-nations-sanction-8-jihadists-in-yemen.php.

Marfadi was born in 1966 and holds Yemeni citizenship.“Saudi Arabia adds 11 Qaeda, ISIS-linked Yemenis on terror list,” Al Arabiya English, October 25, 2017, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/10/25/Saudi-State-Security-lists-two-entities-and-eleven-names-supporting-al-Qaeda-ISIS.html; “Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171025.aspx.  He joined ISIS’s affiliate in Yemen sometime after the group was established in November 2014 and held various important positions. In 2015, he was an official for ISIS in Yemen’s Lahij Governorate, with about 50-60 militants reporting to him. By early 2016, Marfadi was senior enough to have advance knowledge of the majority of ISIS’s attacks in the country, and was even responsible for facilitating some of them.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.  He also attempted to negotiate an agreement for joint operations between ISIS in Yemen and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) during this time.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx; Gregory D. Johnsen, “Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State Benefit as Yemen War Drags On,” Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, January 19, 2016, https://ctc.usma.edu/posts/al-qaida-and-the-islamic-state-benefit-as-yemen-war-drags-on.

By April 2016, Marfadi was the leader of ISIS in Yemen’s Yafa district in Lahij Governorate. He recruited fighters from the district and ran a training camp there. By mid-2016, he was reportedly responsible for preparing vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices in Yemen’s Lahij Governorate that were used for ISIS attacks in the country. He also became part of an assassination cell that targeted security forces in southern Yemen. By mid-2017, Marfadi was known to be a military commander who directed the movements of ISIS fighters and gave orders to the commander of operations of ISIS in Yemen.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.

On October 25, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury named Marfadi a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for acting for or on behalf of ISIS in Yemen and for providing support or services to the group.“Treasury and Terrorist Financing Targeting Certain Partners Issue First Joint Sanctions Against Key Terrorists and Supporters,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, October 25, 2017, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0187.aspx.   Several Gulf countries also belonging to the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, a coalition of nations established in May 2017, also agreed to impose similar sanctions against Marfadi on the same date. These countries included Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Thomas Joscelyn, “US and Gulf nations sanction 8 jihadists in Yemen,” Long War Journal, October 25, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/us-and-gulf-nations-sanction-8-jihadists-in-yemen.php.

Amrozi bin Nurhasyim was an Indonesian-born perpetrator of the October 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people and injured more than 200 others.“Profile: Amrozi,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2632043.stm;
Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html;
U.S. victims of 2002 Bali bombing remembered as ceremonies held worldwide to mark 10th anniversary,” Daily Mail (London), October 12, 2012, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216949/U-S-victims-2002-Bali-bombing-remembered-ceremonies-held-worldwide-mark-10th-anniversary.html. His older brother, Huda bin Abdul Haq, was the mastermind of the attack and a key operative of the al-Qaeda-linked Indonesian terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), and his youngest brother, Ali Imron, was also convicted for his involvement in the attacks and sentenced to life in prison.“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm#Amrozi;
‘Remorseful’ Bali bomber gets life sentence,” Guardian (London), September 18, 2003, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/sep/18/indonesia.australia. Bin Nurhasyim purchased the minivan and the explosives used in the attacks.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 8, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf;
“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm. He was convicted for his assistance in the bombings and executed by firing squad on November 8, 2008, along with bin Abdul Haq and a third conspirator, Imam Samudra.Sadie Gray, “Three Bali bombers executed by firing squad at midnight,” Independent (London), November 9, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/three-bali-bombers-executed-by-firing-squad-at-midnight-1003970.html;
“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm.

Bin Nurhasyim was from the village of Tenggulun in East Java, Indonesia.Matthew Moore, “Key Bali bombing suspects arrested,” Age (Melbourne), January 15, 2003, http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/14/1042520616053.html. He attended Al Islam boarding school in Tenggulun.Paul Toohey, “Al Islam boarding school in Indonesia continues to promote jihad,” News.com.au, November 8, 2014, http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/al-islam-boarding-school-in-indonesia-continues-to-promote-jihad/news-story/ead081588c3c22bd721cf0e7f58532a5. Bin Nurhasyim, a mechanic by trade, reportedly traveled to Malaysia in the 1980s in search of work. While in Malaysia, he reportedly reunited with his older brother bin Abul Haq and studied at an Islamic school where bin Abdul Haq, Samudra and radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir allegedly taught.“Profile: Amrozi,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2632043.stm;
“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm#Amrozi. According to neighbors, bin Nurhasyim returned to his home village of Tenggulun in Indonesia in 1991 and appeared to be more religiously observant.“Profile: Amrozi,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2632043.stm.

Bin Nurhasyim played a significant role in the preparation of the Bali bombing attacks by purchasing many of the necessary materials. Bin Nurhasyim and two accomplices purchased a brand-new Yamaha motorbike from a dealership that they would use for transportation in the attack.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 12, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf. He also purchased the explosives and chemicals used in the bombs and the minivan that would be used as transportation and as a suicide vehicle in the attack.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 8, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf;
“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm. Bin Nurhasyim was reportedly known to authorities as a member of JI before the bombings.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 8, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf.

On October 12, 2002, two bombs exploded in Kuta, a popular tourist area in Bali, killing 202 people and injured more than 200 others.Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html;
“U.S. victims of 2002 Bali bombing remembered as ceremonies held worldwide to mark 10th anniversary,” Daily Mail (London), October 12, 2012, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216949/U-S-victims-2002-Bali-bombing-remembered-ceremonies-held-worldwide-mark-10th-anniversary.html. The planners had recruited two young Indonesian boys to detonate the bombs, one of whom detonated his suicide vest in Paddy’s Irish Bar while the other set off explosives in a van outside of Sari Club.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/how_paridah_met_mukhlas.html. A third, smaller bomb was remotely detonated near the U.S. Consulate in Bali, though no one was hurt.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm.

During the investigation into the 2002 Bali bombings, police traced the van used in the attack back to bin Nurhasyim, which led them to his hometown in Java.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/visiting_the_space_where_the_sari_club_used_to_be.html. He was arrested at his home in Tenggulun on November 7, 2002, and confessed to purchasing the minivan used in the blast outside of Sari Club and buying the chemicals used for the explosives.“Amrozi: Bali’s ‘smiling bomber,’” CNN, February 26, 2004, http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/08/07/amrozi.profile/;
William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 9, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf. When authorities searched his residence, they found bomb ingredients, receipts for these ingredients, and jihadist propaganda materials, including speeches by Osama bin Laden and Indonesian radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir. Authorities also seized his mobile phone, which they used to track down other suspects in the bombing.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 9, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf. While in custody, bin Nurhaysim revealed the names of others involved in the bombing and reportedly told journalists that the attack was designed to kill as many Americans as possible, but was disappointed that the majority of those killed were Australians.“Amrozi: Bali’s ‘smiling bomber’,” CNN, February 26, 2004, http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/08/07/amrozi.profile/;
William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 9, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf.

Bin Nurhasyim was charged with helping to plan the attacks and purchasing the van and chemicals used in the bombings, and went on trial in May 2003.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 37, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf. Prosecutors in the case said that bin Nurhasyim admitted to meeting with Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) founder and jailed radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir. However, Bin Nurhasyim maintained that he was not a member of JI and only participated in the attack to avenge the perceived persecution of Muslims around the world.“Amrozi: Bali’s ‘smiling bomber’,” CNN, February 26, 2004, http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/08/07/amrozi.profile/.

On August 7, 2003, bin Nurhasyim was found guilty of aiding in the planning and execution of the 2002 Bali bombings and was sentenced to death by firing squad.“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm#Amrozi. In 2006, lawyers for bin Nurhasyim, bin Abdul Haq and Samudra began to file a series of appeals—including an appeal on their death sentences and an appeal of the mode of execution, arguing that beheading was more humane.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/how_paridah_met_mukhlas.html. The appeals stalled the executions, but were ultimately unsuccessful.“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm#Amrozi.

On May 12, 2008, while detained at Nusakamanbangan prison, bin Nurhasyim was married for the fourth time in a “virtual ceremony” conducted in his home village of Tenggulun in east Java.Geoff Thompson, “’Virtual wedding ceremony’ for Bali bomber Amrozi,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 12, 2008, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-05-12/virtual-wedding-ceremony-for-bali-bomber-amrozi/2433544. According to his lawyer, bin Nurhasyim was remarried to his first wife Rahma and his brother stood in his place, as officials did not grant permission for a wedding in the prison.Geoff Thompson, “’Virtual wedding ceremony’ for Bali bomber Amrozi,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 12, 2008, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-05-12/virtual-wedding-ceremony-for-bali-bomber-amrozi/2433544.

On November 8, 2008, bin Nurhasyim, bin Abdul Haq, and Samudra were executed by firing squad on the prison island of Nusakambangan.Sadie Gray, “Three Bali bombers executed by firing squad at midnight,” Independent (London), November 9, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/three-bali-bombers-executed-by-firing-squad-at-midnight-1003970.html.

Ali Imron was the field coordinator of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people and injured more than 200 others.Matthew Moore, “Key Bali bombing suspects arrested,” Age (Melbourne), January 15, 2003, http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/14/1042520616053.html;
Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html;
U.S. victims of 2002 Bali bombing remembered as ceremonies held worldwide to mark 10th anniversary,” Daily Mail (London), October 12, 2012, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216949/U-S-victims-2002-Bali-bombing-remembered-ceremonies-held-worldwide-mark-10th-anniversary.html. The younger brother of two other key members of the plot, Amrozi bin Nurhasyim and Huda bin Abdul Haq, Imron helped to prepare and transport the bombs used in the attacks.Tim Palmer, “Ali Imron awaits verdict for Bali bombing role,” Australian Broadcasting Company, September 18, 2003, http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s948645.htm;
Tim Palmer, “Ali Imron awaits verdict for Bali bombing role,” Australian Broadcasting Company, September 18, 2003, http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s948645.htm. He was convicted for his involvement in the attacks and sentenced to a life in prison.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm. He was reportedly spared the death penalty because he expressed remorse and cooperated with authorities after his arrest.Paige Cockburn, “Face to face with a terrorist: Bali bomber Ali Imron meets victims’ friends and families in Jakarta jail,” Australian Broadcasting Company, January 3, 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-04/victims-relatives-come-face-to-face-with-bali-bomber/6668596.

Imron was from the village of Tenggulun in East Java, Indonesia.Matthew Moore, “Key Bali bombing suspects arrested,” Age (Melbourne), January 15, 2003, http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/14/1042520616053.html. Before his involvement in the 2002 attack, Imron worked as a teacher at the Al Islam boarding school in Tenggulun.“‘Remorseful’ Bali bomber gets life sentence,” Guardian (London), September 18, 2003, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/sep/18/indonesia.australia;
Paul Toohey, “Al Islam boarding school in Indonesia continues to promote jihad,” News.com.au, November 8, 2014, http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/al-islam-boarding-school-in-indonesia-continues-to-promote-jihad/news-story/ead081588c3c22bd721cf0e7f58532a5. He reportedly traveled with his brother bin Abdul Haq to Malaysia and then to Afghanistan in the 1990s, where he received firearms and explosives training.“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, updated March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm;
Tim Palmer, “Ali Imron awaits verdict for Bali bombing role,” Australian Broadcasting Company, September 18, 2003, http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s948645.htm. Bin Abdul Haq later became the operations chief of the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html. In 2002, JI began plotting a largescale attack on a “soft target,” and bin Abdul Haq recruited two of his younger brothers, Imron and bin Nurhaysim, to participate. Imron later reported that the terrorist group had decided on Bali as the target by August 2002 and had chosen the target because it was “frequented by Americans and their associates.” He also claimed that the attack was originally intended to be carried out on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks, but was postponed to the following month because the bombs were not ready in time.“The Bali bombing plot,” BBC News, updated March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3157478.stm.

Imron played a significant role in the preparation of the attacks. He later confessed that he trained the suicide bombers and helped construct the bombs.Tim Palmer, “Ali Imron awaits verdict for Bali bombing role,” Australian Broadcasting Company, September 18, 2003, http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s948645.htm. Imron and two accomplices also purchased a brand-new Yamaha motorbike from a dealership that they would use for transportation in the attack.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 12, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf.

On October 12, 2002, two bombs exploded in Kuta, a popular tourist district in Bali, killing 202 people and injuring more than 200 others.Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html;
U.S. victims of 2002 Bali bombing remembered as ceremonies held worldwide to mark 10th anniversary,” Daily Mail (London), October 12, 2012, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216949/U-S-victims-2002-Bali-bombing-remembered-ceremonies-held-worldwide-mark-10th-anniversary.html. The planners had recruited two young Indonesian boys to detonate the bombs, one of whom detonated his suicide vest in Paddy’s Irish Bar while the set off explosives in a van outside of Sari Club.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm; Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/how_paridah_met_mukhlas.html. A third, smaller bomb was remotely detonated near the U.S. Consulate in Bali, though no one was injured.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm. Authorities later discovered that Imron acted as the field coordinator in the attack.Matthew Moore, “Key Bali bombing suspects arrested,” Age (Melbourne), January 15, 2003, http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/14/1042520616053.html. He planted the bomb near the U.S. Consulate, transporting it there on the Yamaha motorbike. He also drove the two suicide bombers and their explosives to Kuta in the van used in the Sari Club bombing, then departed on the motorbike with another accomplice as the suicide bombers prepared to carry out their attacks.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 12, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf.

Balinese police traced the van used in the attack to bin Imron’s brother, bin Nurhasyim, who was arrested in November 2002, revealing Imron’s name and association with the attack while under questioning.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/visiting_the_space_where_the_sari_club_used_to_be.html;
William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 9, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf. Imron was arrested on January 13, 2003, at a fish farm on the island of the remote Indonesian island of Berukang, where he was hiding with two other accomplices from the plot.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 11-12, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf. They had reportedly been intended to flee to Malaysia.“Timeline: Bali Nightclub Bombings,” Fox News, August 7, 2003, http://www.foxnews.com/story/2003/08/07/timeline-bali-nightclub-bombings.html. Imron cooperated with authorities after his arrest, confessing his own role in the attacks and relating the plot in detail.Tim Palmer, “Ali Imron awaits verdict for Bali bombing role,” Australian Broadcasting Company, September 18, 2003, http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s948645.htm. Imron revealed how and where one of the bombs used in the attack had been made, helping authorities discover the identity of one of the suicide bombers.William M. Wise, “Indonesia’s War on Terror,” United States – Indonesia Society, August 2005, 11-12, https://www.webcitation.org/5rAFxSKAn?url=http://www.usindo.org/publications/reports/pdf/WarOnTerror.pdf. He even demonstrated to authorities exactly how the bombs had been assembled.“The Bali bombing plotters,” BBC News, updated March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2385323.stm. In addition to publicly admitting his role in the attacks in February 2003, Imron was the only one of the 30 suspects arrested in relation to the bombing to express any remorse, although he denounced the United States and its allies as “legitimate targets.”“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, updated November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
“Trial Begins for Bali Bombing Suspect Ali Imron – 2003-07-21,” Voice of America, October 28, 2009, https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-a-2003-07-21-15-trial-66857282/376098.html. Imron continued to help authorities in 2003 by giving testimony against the other suspects on trial.“‘Remorseful’ Bali bomber gets life sentence,” Guardian (London), September 18, 2003, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/sep/18/indonesia.australia.

Imron was charged with constructing and delivering the largest of the three bombs used in the attack and went on trial in July 2003.“Trial Begins for Bali Bombing Suspect Ali Imron – 2003-07-21,” Voice of America, October 28, 2009, https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-a-2003-07-21-15-trial-66857282/376098.html;
“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, updated November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
“Bali Bombing Convict Imron Gets Life Sentence – 2003-09-18,” Voice of America, October 30, 2009, https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-a-2003-09-18-24-bali/393952.html. During his trial, he reportedly expressed remorse and testified that the attack was intended to target the West for its treatment of Muslims.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, updated November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
“Bali Bombing Convict Imron Gets Life Sentence – 2003-09-18,” Voice of America, October 30, 2009, https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-a-2003-09-18-24-bali/393952.html;
“The Bali bombing plot,” BBC News, updated March 10, 2010, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3157478.stm. On September 18, 2003, Imron was convicted for an act of terrorism and sentenced to life in prison.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm. He was spared the death penalty, reportedly because he had expressed remorse and cooperated with authorities.Paige Cockburn, “Face to face with a terrorist: Bali bomber Ali Imron meets victims’ friends and families in Jakarta jail,” Australian Broadcasting Company, January 3, 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-04/victims-relatives-come-face-to-face-with-bali-bomber/6668596.

Imron was temporarily let out of prison in 2007 to work with authorities on de-radicalization programs.“Meet the Terrorists: Ali Imron,” SBS Australia, July 21, 2015, http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/article/2015/07/21/meet-terrorists-ali-imron;
“Tackling Indonesian Terror,” Australian Broadcasting Company, December 23, 2007, http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/tackling-indonesian-terror/3289804. In 2010, he was the subject of a comic book distributed to Indonesian youth as part of an official de-radicalization effort.Zoe Murphy and Yoko Sari, “Bali bomber Ali Imron becomes comic book character,” BBC News, August 6, 2010, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-10893889. In 2015, he met with friends and family members of victims who had been killed in the 2002 attacks.Paige Cockburn, “Face to face with a terrorist: Bali bomber Ali Imron meets victims’ friends and families in Jakarta jail,” Australian Broadcasting Company, January 3, 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-04/victims-relatives-come-face-to-face-with-bali-bomber/6668596.

Huda bin Abdul Haq was the Indonesian-born operations chief of the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). He was known for masterminding the October 2002 Bali bombings, which left 202 people dead and more than 200 others injured.Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html;
U.S. victims of 2002 Bali bombing remembered as ceremonies held worldwide to mark 10th anniversary,” Daily Mail (London), October 12, 2012, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216949/U-S-victims-2002-Bali-bombing-remembered-ceremonies-held-worldwide-mark-10th-anniversary.html. Bin Abdul Haq was arrested by Balinese police in December 2002, and found guilty of facilitating the attacks the following October.Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/visiting_the_space_where_the_sari_club_used_to_be.html;
Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html. His two younger brothers and co-conspirators, Amrozi bin Nurhasyim and Ali Imron, were arrested in November 2002 and January 2003, respectively.“Profile: Mukhlas,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2542863.stm. Bin Abdul Haq, bin Nurasyim, and a third conspirator, Imam Samudra, were executed on November 8, 2008, while the youngest brother, Ali Imron, continues to serve a life sentence in Indonesian prison.Sadie Gray, “Three Bali bombers executed by firing squad at midnight,” Independent (London), November 9, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/three-bali-bombers-executed-by-firing-squad-at-midnight-1003970.html.

Bin Abdul Haq is believed to have studied at an Islamic boarding school in Solo, Central Java—one of many schools founded and formerly run by JI leader Abu Bakar Bashir.“Profile: Mukhlas,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2542863.stm. As with Bashir and other JI militants, bin Abdul Haq’s jihadist activity can be traced back to the Afghan-Soviet war in the 1980s—when bin Abdul Haq traveled to Pakistan to receive combat training before traveling to Afghanistan to fight alongside the jihadists. It was during his time in Afghanistan that bin Abdul Haq claims to have met al-Qaeda co-founder Osama bin Laden.Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/how_paridah_met_mukhlas.html;
“Profile: Mukhlas,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2542863.stm.>

In 1990, bin Abdul Haq left Afghanistan and traveled to Malaysia, where he married the daughter of an associate of JI founders Abu Bakar Bashir and Abdullah Sungkar.Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/how_paridah_met_mukhlas.html. In Malaysia, bin Abdul Haq established an Islamic boarding school of his own, modeled after Bashir and Sungkar’s in Indonesia. He traveled with other JI extremists throughout Southeast Asia, proselytizing and training aspiring jihadists.Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/how_paridah_met_mukhlas.html.

In February of 2002, bin Abul Haq met with JI leaders in Thailand to begin planning a largescale attack.“Profile: Mukhlas,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2542863.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/how_paridah_met_mukhlas.html. The plotters discussed attacking “soft targets” such as tourist destinations, ultimately deciding to target nightclubs.“Profile: Mukhlas,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2542863.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/visiting_the_space_where_the_sari_club_used_to_be.html. In April 2002, bin Abdul Haq returned to Indonesia and convened another meeting with JI leaders, in which the plotters decided to attack Bali, the Hindu-majority island in south Indonesia. Witnesses testified during Abdul Haq’s trial that he had traveled to Bali in May 2002.“Profile: Mukhlas,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2542863.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/visiting_the_space_where_the_sari_club_used_to_be.html.

On October 12, 2002, two bombs exploded in Kuta, a popular tourist district in Bali, killing 202 people and injuring more than 200 others.Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html;
U.S. victims of 2002 Bali bombing remembered as ceremonies held worldwide to mark 10th anniversary,” Daily Mail (London), October 12, 2012, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216949/U-S-victims-2002-Bali-bombing-remembered-ceremonies-held-worldwide-mark-10th-anniversary.html. The planners had recruited two young Indonesian boys to detonate the bombs, one of whom detonated his suicide vest in Paddy’s Irish Bar while the other set off explosives in a van outside of Sari Club.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/how_paridah_met_mukhlas.html. A third, smaller bomb was remotely detonated near the U.S. Consulate in Bali, though no one was injured.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm.

Balinese police traced the van used in the attack to bin Abdul Haq’s brother, bin Nurhasyim, and launched an investigation that led them to the brothers’ hometown in Central Java. Bin Abdul Haq was arrested on December 4, 2003.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm;
Kelly McEvers, “The Terrorist’s Wife,” Slate, November 1, 2005, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/features/2005/the_terrorists_wife/visiting_the_space_where_the_sari_club_used_to_be.html. During his trial between June and October of 2003, bin Abdul Haq reportedly showed no remorse for the bombings. Instead, he exploited court appearances as a platform to decry the United States, calling U.S. President George W. Bush a “terrorist.”Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html. Bin Abdul Haq said that the attacks were in retaliation for alleged crimes perpetrated by the United States and other Western countries operating in the Middle East.Sadie Gray, “Three Bali bombers executed by firing squad at midnight,” Independent (London), November 9, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/three-bali-bombers-executed-by-firing-squad-at-midnight-1003970.html. Bin Abdul Haq testified to being JI’s operations chief and revealed that he had fought alongside bin Laden in Afghanistan in the 1980s.Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html. According to fellow inmates, bin Abdul Haq continued to preach—and even delivered a sermon via phone to a congregation in Sulawesi, Indonesia—while in detention in the high-security prison complex on Nusakambangan Island.“Profile: Mukhlas,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2542863.stm.

On October 2, 2003, bin Abdul Haq was convicted on several charges, including terrorism-related charges and illegal possession of explosives. He received the death penalty, typically carried out by firing squad in Indonesia.Agence France-Presse, “Mastermind Muklas sentenced to firing squad,” Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003, http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/02/1064988317681.html. His brother bin Nurhasyim was convicted and sentenced to death for purchasing explosives and a van used in the bombings, while the youngest brother Imron received a life sentence for helping assemble bombs and driving the van.“Profile: Mukhlas,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2542863.stm. From the time of bin Abdul Haq’s sentencing to November 3, 2008, his lawyer filed a series of appeals to challenge the verdict and the method of execution, but they were repeatedly denied.“Timeline: Bali bomb trials,” BBC News, November 8, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm. On November 8, 2008, bin Abul Haq, his brother bin Nurhasyim, and Samudra were executed by firing squad on the prison island of Nusakambangan.Sadie Gray, “Three Bali bombers executed by firing squad at midnight,” Independent (London), November 9, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/three-bali-bombers-executed-by-firing-squad-at-midnight-1003970.html.

Ramzi bin al-Shibh is a key facilitator of the 9/11 attacks currently held by the United States at the Guantanamo Bay.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh. Originally intended to be the fourth hijacker-pilot in the attacks, he played the role of facilitator when he was unable to obtain a U.S. visa.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 168, 225, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. Bin al-Shibh was captured by Pakistani authorities in 2002 and transferred to Guantanamo in 2006. In 2008, he and four co-defendants were charged on eight counts of capital murder. His trial is ongoing.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh;
“Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Fast Facts,” CNN, last modified December 22, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/03/world/meast/khalid-sheikh-mohammed-fast-facts/.

Ramzi bin al-Shibh was born in Ghayl Bawazir, Yemen, to a religiously observant family.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 161, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf;
“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 2, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh. Little is known about his early life, but according to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF), he became interested in religion at age 12.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 161, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf;
“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 2, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh. He worked for the International Bank of Yemen from 1987 to 1995, and fought for two months in support of the Yemeni government during that country’s civil war in 1994.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh. In 1995, after being denied a U.S. visa, he relocated to Germany, claiming that he was a political refugee from Sudan named Ramzi Omar seeking asylum.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 161, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. He lived in Hamburg under the name Umar al-Yemeni until his application was denied in November 1997, at which point he returned to Yemen to obtain a student visa.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 2, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh. He then returned to Hamburg as a student under his true name. However, his academic performance proved poor, and he was expelled from a school in September of 1998.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 161, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

While in Germany, bin al-Shibh linked up with a group of Islamists who would later comprise the Hamburg contingent of the 9/11 plot.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 160, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. The group included hijacker-pilots Mohamed Atta (Flight 11), Marwan al Shehhi (Flight 175) and Ziad Jarrah (Flight 93). Also belonging to the plotters’ social circle in Hamburg were fellow extremists Said Bahaji, Zakaria Essabar, Mounir el Motassadeq, and Abdelghani Mzoudi, some of whom were later found to have helped the cell as they planned and coordinated the attacks.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 164-165, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

The 9/11 Commission could not determine how each member of the Hamburg cell met each other. The Commission did, however, successfully determine that bin al-Shibh first met Atta at a mosque in Hamburg in 1995.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 161-162, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. In 1998, bin al-Shibh began sharing an apartment at 54 Marienstrasse with two members of his extremist circle: Atta and Shehhi. In their shared apartment, the group hosted discussions with the rest of their extremist social circle three to four times per week, sharing opinions later characterized by the 9/11 Commission as “extremely anti-American.”National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 164, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. At some point in the late 1990s, the group also joined up with Lebanese-born Ziad Jarrah, who first met bin al-Shibh in the Quds mosque in Hamburg.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 162-163, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. By the late 1990s, bin al-Shibh was denouncing a “Jewish world conspiracy” and praising violent jihad, according to the 9/11 Commission.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 161, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

In 1999, four members of the Hamburg group—bin al-Shibh, Atta, Shehhi, and Jarrah—became committed to participating in violent jihad. The four decided to leave Germany to fight in Chechnya against the Russians, but were encouraged to travel to Afghanistan after a chance encounter with fellow extremist Khalid al Masri.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 165, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. According to bin al-Shibh, Masri connected the cell to an al-Qaeda contact in Duisburg, Germany—Mohamedou Ould Slahi—who recommended that the group travel to Afghanistan for training before traveling to Chechnya. Upon agreeing to Slahi’s suggestion, the group was instructed to obtain Pakistani visas and travel through Karachi to the Taliban’s office in Quetta.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 165-166, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

Bin al-Shibh, Atta, Shehhi, and Jarrah left Germany for Afghanistan in November 1999. When the group arrived at the Taliban office in Quetta, they were shuttled to Kandahar and introduced to then-al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. According to findings from the 9/11 Commission, after meeting privately with bin Laden, each of the four swore an oath of loyalty to bin Laden and volunteered to participate in a martyrdom mission. The group then met with al-Qaeda military commander Mohammed Atef, who told them that they had been assigned to a highly secretive mission. As the first part of the assignment, Atef instructed the group to return to Germany and enroll in flight training school. They were told that they would eventually be joined in their operation by fellow al-Qaeda operative Nawaf al Hazmi, who would help hijack Flight 77 and serve as Atta’s second-in-command.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 166; 242, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

By early 2000, bin al-Shibh and his cohorts had begun staggering their return to Germany, each traveling through Karachi. In Karachi, they met with 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), who had first conceived of the plot—approved by bin Laden in late 1998 or early 1999—to weaponize airplanes and crash them into buildings in the United States.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 149; 167, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. During bin al-Shibh and Atta’s joint meeting with KSM in January 2000, the pair was given practical instructions on how to evade government detection as well as more basic instructions on how to live in the United States. Bin al-Shibh and his cohorts returned to Hamburg in early 2000.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 167, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

Upon returning to Germany, the four al-Qaeda members began researching flight schools in Europe and worked to conceal their extremist behavior. Ultimately, the group decided to receive flight training in the United States, where flight schools were less expensive and required fewer training hours.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 167-168, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. In August 2000, bin al-Shibh briefly traveled to Dubai, where he met with KSM’s nephew, Ammar al-Baluchi. He then continued on to Yemen, where he obtained a U.K. visa in the hopes that it would help him acquire a U.S. visa. He reportedly traveled to London in the hopes of finding a wife or acquiring a false passport that would help him travel to the United States, but failed on both accounts, returning to Germany in September 2000.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 4-5, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh.

Although Atta, Shehhi, and Jarrah successfully obtained new passports and visas, bin al-Shibh’s four visa requests were denied because it was suspected that he might seek to work as an undocumented alien in the United States, even though he had already been accepted to flight school in Florida and sent a deposit. Bin al-Shibh would therefore remain behind as a facilitator for the operation.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 168, 225, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. The other three traveled to the United States to begin flight training, obtaining their pilot licenses by January 2001.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 5, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh.

In January 2001, Atta returned to Germany for a progress meeting with bin al-Shibh, informing him that the three Hamburg pilots had completed their flight training and were awaiting further instruction from al-Qaeda and that a fourth pilot, Hani Hanjour, had joined the operation.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 227, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. In late January, bin al-Shibh returned to Afghanistan to relay the information to bin Laden, briefly contracting malaria while there. After he recovered in March, bin Laden informed him of the intended targets for the 9/11 attacks, and gave him further instructions to relay to the hijackers.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 5, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh;
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 243, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

In June, bin al-Shibh traveled to Pakistan, where he met with KSM. KSM told him to ask Atta to select an attack date, and gave him the contact information of a possible additional hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui. KSM also gave bin al-Shibh a Saudi passport under the name Hasan Ali al-Assiri and a ticket to Malaysia, where he was supposed to meet Atta. However, Atta could not make the trip because he was busy helping the muscle hijackers settle into the United States. Bin al-Shibh remained in Malaysia for three weeks, briefly traveling to Bangkok before returning to Germany, as instructed by KSM. While in Afghanistan and Pakistan, bin al-Shibh also helped facilitate the travel of the muscle hijackers through the area.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 6, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh;
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 243-4, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

Bin al-Shibh and Atta decided to meet in Spain instead. Bin al-Shibh traveled to Reus, near Barcelona, on July 9. The two stayed in the area until bin al-Shibh returned to Hamburg on July 16. They spent their time in Spain discussing attack details and logistics. By his own account, bin al-Shibh relayed a request from bin Laden during this time to execute the attacks as quickly as possible, as he was concerned about having so many operatives in the United States. Atta responded that he would need five to six more weeks to continue organizing arrangements before providing an attack date. Bin al-Shibh informed Atta of the need to withhold the attack date from the hijackers until the last minute, but to provide him with one week’s advance notice of the date so that he could travel to Afghanistan and relay the date to bin Laden directly.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 244, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. Atta also told bin al-Shibh during this meeting that although he understood bin Laden’s preference to target the White House over the U.S. Capitol, the Capitol was a more feasible target.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 244, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. Atta confirmed that the muscle hijackers had all arrived in the United States without issue, and he was dividing them into teams based on their ability to speak English.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 244-5, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

Another point of discussion during the meeting was hijacker Ziad Jarrah’s strained relationship with Atta. At one point, KSM instructed bin al-Shibh to send funds to Zacarias Moussaoui. The 9/11 Commission suggests that KSM may have been motivated by concerns that Jarrah might back out of the operation and viewed Moussaoui as a potential substitute pilot for him. In accordance with KSM’s instructions, Bin al-Shibh wired Moussaoui a total of $15,000 in July.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 246, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. Moussaoui was arrested in August 2001, and the 9/11 Commission believes that the 9/11 plot could have been uncovered had authorities investigated further and discovered his communications with bin al-Shibh.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 276, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. Bin al-Shibh also met with Jarrah when he traveled to Germany in late July, and convinced him not to withdraw from the operation.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 246, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf.

In the final weeks before the 9/11 attacks, Atta coordinated further with bin al-Shibh, discussing additional logistics of the attacks.National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, and Lee Hamilton. 2004. The 9/11 Commission report: final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. (Washington, D.C.): 248, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf. In mid-August, Atta contacted bin al-Shibh and gave him a riddle: two branches, a slash, and a lollipop––code for the attack date, 9/11. Bin al-Shibh then relayed the date to KSM. On September 8, Bin al-Shibh met al-Baluchi in Dubai. The two traveled together to Pakistan. KSM picked them up in Karachi on the morning of September 11. They celebrated upon seeing the 9/11 attacks on the news.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 7, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh.

On September 12, 2001, bin al-Shibh traveled to Afghanistan, meeting with bin Laden and other al-Qaeda officials in Kabul and mid-September, who praised him for his assistance in the plot. Bin Laden sent him to an al-Qaeda training camp near Kabul, where he underwent training for about a month in weaponry and guerrilla warfare. Over the next few months, as the United States commenced operations in Afghanistan, Bin al-Shibh traveled with other al-Qaeda members throughout the country. In November, he met with senior al-Qaeda leaders in Zormat, and in December, worked as a cook in Kandahar. While in Kandahar, he discussed potential future operations against the West with KSM. After Kandahar fell to U.S. coalition forces, bin al-Shibh traveled to Karachi, Pakistan.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 7-8, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh.

Bin al-Shibh and KSM discussed the possibility of bin al-Shibh’s attending a flight school in Karachi, but this plan was ultimately discarded after bin al-Shibh’s key involvement in the 9/11 attacks became public. Bin al-Shibh instead stayed at several al-Qaida safe houses in the first few months of 2002. In June, KSM consulted bin al-Shibh about the possibility of conducting an operation similar to the 9/11 attacks at London’s Heathrow airport.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 9, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh.

On September 10 and September 11, Pakistani authorities raided several al-Qaida residences in Karachi. Bin al-Shibh was captured and taken into custody.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 9-10, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh. He was handed over to U.S. custody and taken to a prison in an undisclosed third country for further interrogation.“Binalshibh to go to third country for questioning,” CNN, September 17, 2002, http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/09/16/alqaeda.pakistan/. On September 6, 2006, then-U.S. president George Bush publicly acknowledged that bin al-Shibh had been transferred to Guantanamo two days prior.“14 terror suspects profiled,” CNN, September 7, 2006, http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/06/terrorr.detainees/. That December, the Department of Defense Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF) concluded that bin al-Shibh posed a high risk and was of high intelligence value.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: JFT – GTMO Assessment,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 2, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh. Bin al-Shibh chose not to attend his military hearings at Guantanamo in February and March of 2007, choosing to remain in his cell instead.“The Guantanamo Docket: Ramzi Bin al Shibh: Combatant Status Review Tribunal Transcripts for High Value Detainees,” New York Times, accessed August 10, 2017, 3, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/guantanamo/detainees/10013-ramzi-bin-al-shibh. In 2010, the CIA admitted that it has tapes of bin al-Shibh’s interrogations in Morocco.“CIA tapes prove Morocco rendition,” The Australian (Surry Hills), August 29, 2010, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/cia-tapes-prove-morocco-rendition/news-story/d8cb292fbc8307e7f3ac8028d94928a5. In 2014, the Senate Intelligence Committee revealed that bin al-Shibh had been subjected to various torture techniques.“The Senate Committee’s Report on the C.I.A.’s Use of Torture,” New York Times, December 9, 2014, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/12/09/world/cia-torture-report-document.html.

In February 2008, a military commission indicted bin al-Shibh and four fellow Guantanamo detainees on capital murder charges related to the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. government also announced that it would seek the death penalty against the defendants.“Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Fast Facts,” CNN, last modified December 22, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/03/world/meast/khalid-sheikh-mohammed-fast-facts/. In January 2009, bin al-Shibh publicly admitted that he was proud of helping to execute the 9/11 attacks.“Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Fast Facts,” CNN, last modified December 22, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/03/world/meast/khalid-sheikh-mohammed-fast-facts/;
Jane Sutton, “Guantanamo court convenes amid chaos,” Reuters, January 18, 2009, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-guantanamo-hearings-idUSTRE50I01I20090119.

Between 2009 and 2012, the status of bin al-Shibh’s trial fluctuated as U.S. authorities requested freezes and delays in the proceedings. In November 2009, the U.S. Justice Department announced that the trial would be transferred to a New York court room. That decision was reversed in April 2011 when Attorney General Eric Holder said that the trial would be re-transferred to Guantanamo. The capital charges were re-filed against bin al-Shibh and his four co-defendants that May. They included conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, destruction of property in violation of the law of war, hijacking aircraft and terrorism. The detainees appeared in public for the first time during their arraignment at Guantanamo in May 2012. However, during the proceedings, the detainees largely refused to cooperate.“Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Fast Facts,” CNN, last modified December 22, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/03/world/meast/khalid-sheikh-mohammed-fast-facts/.

In December 2013, bin al-Shibh’s trial was once again frozen because of suspicions that he was not mentally fit to stand trial, as he often disrupted the proceedings with outbursts and at other times, refused to talk or cooperate.Carol Rosenberg, “Alleged 9/11 conspirator stymies mental health board,” Miami Herald, January 31, 2014, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article1959854.html. He claimed that he was being mistreated and deprived of sleep in his prison, forcing the hearings to focus on the conditions of his incarceration.Carol Rosenberg, “Alleged 9/11 conspirator stymies mental health board,” Miami Herald, January 31, 2014, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article1959854.html;
Carol Rosenberg, “9/11 competency hearing puts focus on Guantanamo’s secret prison,” Miami Herald, April 13, 2014, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article1962826.html. In July 2014, the U.S. army judge Col. James L. Pohl temporarily removed bin al-Shibh’s trial from that of the other four 9/11-affiliated detainees, claiming that his specific issues were slowing the proceedings, but the decision was reversed in December 2015 after prosecutors protested. Bin al-Shibh was deemed competent to stand trial. Nonetheless, the proceedings have continued to face various delays,Carol Rosenberg, “Guantanamo judge formally restores five-man 9/11 trial,” Miami Herald, December 4, 2015, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/guantanamo/article48035305.html. and as of 2021, the trial has still not taken place.“About the 9/11 war crimes trial,” Miami Herald, May 15, 2017, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/guantanamo/article1928877.html.

Dayne Atani Christian is an American citizen who was arrested on July 21, 2016, along with Gregory Hubbard and Darren Arness Jackson, for conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. Christian was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Christian provided firearms and training to Hubbard and a confidential FBI source who told him that they intended to travel to Syria to join ISIS. He also expressed praise for ISIS and ISIS-related acts of terrorism, as well as a desire to commit his own violent acts of terrorism and to travel to Syria and join ISIS himself.“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil;
“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. In May 2018, he was sentenced to eight years in prison.“Three Florida Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs, May 16, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-florida-men-sentenced-conspiring-provide-material-support-isis.

Christian, from Lake Park, Florida, was a former student athlete at Palm Beach Lakes High School.“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil;
John Pacenti, “ISIS in Florida: Former FBI agent on why arrests didn’t come sooner,” Palm Beach Post, July 24, 2017, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime--law/isis-florida-former-fbi-agent-why-arrests-didn-come-sooner/Pezdh6eBg1C3B1zVDMKVuI/. Little else is known about his personal life, but he was already a convicted felon before his 2016 charges, having been convicted in May 2010 for making a false statement to a firearms dealer in connection with the acquisition of firearms. Christian was subsequently sentenced to a year in prison.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 5, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. Before his arrest in 2016, he worked as a supervisor at a local company.Paula McMahon, “Guilty pleas expected for two Palm Beach County men arrested in terror sting,” Sun Sentinel, March 14, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-reg-palm-beach-terror-sting-update-20170314-story.html. He was also reportedly married, and at one point referred to his wife in conversation.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 14, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

In 2015, Hubbard was contacted by a confidential FBI informant pretending to be an ISIS follower.Paula McMahon, “Second man pleads guilty in Palm Beach terrorism sting,” Sun Sentinel, April 4, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-pn-terrorism-sting-plea-palm-beach-20170403-story.html;
“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 5, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. The FBI informant would record more than 200 hours of conversation among Christian, Jackson, and Hubbard over the course of the next year.Jane Musgrave, “Second PBC man pleads guilty in plot to help ISIS,” Palm Beach Post, April 4, 2017, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime--law/second-pbc-man-pleads-guilty-plot-help-isis/8o3UPtnn7sX8YgYv0trNCP/. The men reportedly used code words to communicate, including the phrase “soccer team” in reference to ISIS, and “playing soccer” in reference to violent activity.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 5, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. On July 30, 2015, Hubbard informed the FBI informant that Christian––known among the group as “Shakur”––had ISIS-affiliated contacts in Syria. On August 15, Hubbard introduced the FBI source to Christian in person. At that time, Christian stated that he wanted to travel to Syria, join ISIS, and wage violent jihad.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 5, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

Christian was known to watch and propagate radical content online, including ISIS videos and lectures by the radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. He reportedly sought to radicalize another individual by having him watch Awlaki lectures.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 6, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. According to the criminal complaint filed against him, in reply to a text message from Hubbard containing a link to an Awlaki video encouraging violent jihad, Christian stated that “any Muslim of sanity would follow Awlaki’s guidance.”“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 18, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. On other occasions, Christian played recorded lectures on his phone that advocated jihad and a sermon that praised Osama bin Laden.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 8, 16, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. Christian sent a text message on an unspecified social media platform linking to an audio file released on May 21, 2016, by the late ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, threatening the West and calling on ISIS supporters to target civilians.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 12, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. He also discussed violent ISIS videos with Hubbard and the FBI source, expressing “favorable views” of at least one of the videos, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 13, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

Christian made comments praising violent terrorist attacks and professed a desire to commit similar attacks of his own. Christian expressed a desire to attack U.S. military personnel, commenting that he wanted to target one man in particular from his gym that wore a U.S. Marines t-shirt and shoot him outside of his home.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 8-9, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. In response to a question from his boss about the December 2015 San Bernardino mass shooting, he reportedly showed his boss a video about how Muslims have a right to defend themselves.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 8, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. Christian also praised the 2009 shooting in Fort Hood, Texas, encouraging Hubbard to “follow suit” with a similar attack and commenting that there were some people he was thinking about “taking out” himself, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 10, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. He praised the Orlando nightclub attack and spoke approvingly of the July 2016 Bastille Day attack in Nice, France.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 16, 20, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. On another occasion, Christian quoted a statement from ISIS’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi encouraging ISIS supporters to carry out attacks in their home countries.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 15, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. Christian expressed a desire to travel to Syria himself, stating on June 26, 2016, that he was getting his affairs in order so that he could travel to Syria with his family sometime in the future.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 18, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

Christian provided firearms and firearms instruction to Hubbard and the FBI informant in awareness of their plans to travel to Syria and fight for ISIS there. During one meeting with them, Christian discussed the types of firearms he owned, acknowledging that he would have to make sure not to get caught during target practice, as he would go to jail for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 9-10, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. He specifically spoke to the FBI source about places from which he could buy guns and ammunition that did not check IDs.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 10-11, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. Christian later gave pistols to the Hubbard and the FBI informant to use at target practice, again acknowledging that he was not supposed to have a gun, and sold a rifle to the FBI undercover in full knowledge that the he intended to travel to Syria to join ISIS and use a similar weapon there.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 13-15, 17-18, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. On July 16, 2016, four days after the FBI undercover detailed to Christian his plans for traveling to Syria with Hubbard, Christian attended target practice with the FBI undercover and Jackson at a South Florida wildlife management area. While there, Christian gave the FBI source “detailed firearms instruction” and referred to the practice as a “training session,” according to the criminal complaint filed against him.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 18-20, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

On July 21, 2016, Jackson drove Hubbard and the FBI undercover to the airport to depart for Syria to join ISIS. After Hubbard and Jackson were arrested, Christian was arrested later that day at his place of work.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 21, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. In a statement made after his arrest, Christian admitted that he possessed four firearms in the previous year.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 22, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

On July 26, 2016, Christian was indicted with a charge of conspiracy to provide personnel to ISIS, as he had provided firearms and firearms training to the FBI undercover and Hubbard, who intended to travel to Syria, and expressed a desire to join ISIS himself. He was also indicted on four counts related to his firearm possession.“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil.

On March 29, 2017, Christian pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and to another count for being a felon in possession of a firearm.“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil. He was also required to forfeit three firearms, including an assault rifle.Jane Musgrave, “NEW: Lake Park man pleads guilty to trying to help ISIS,” Palm Beach Post, March 29, 2017, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime--law/new-lake-park-man-pleads-guilty-trying-help-isis/ZSNaFgWr2pw0K8wMdXgsRO/.

On May 16, 2018, Christian was sentenced to eight years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. His codefendants were sentenced on the same day: Hubbard received twelve years in prison and a lifetime of post-release supervision, while Jackson received four years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.“Three Florida Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs, May 16, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-florida-men-sentenced-conspiring-provide-material-support-isis.

Christian is currently incarcerated at Miami Federal Correctional Institute in Florida, with a scheduled release date of May 29, 2029.“DAYNE ANTANI CHRISTIAN,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed April 2, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/.

Darren Arness Jackson is an American citizen who was arrested on July 21, 2016, along with Gregory Hubbard and Dayne Atani Christian, for conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. Jackson provided firearms and firearms training to Hubbard and a confidential FBI source who told him that they intended to travel to Syria to join ISIS. On July 21, 2016, he drove Hubbard and the FBI source to Miami International Airport, in full awareness that they intended to depart from there for Syria to join ISIS. He also expressed praise for ISIS and ISIS-related acts of terrorism, as well as a desire to commit his own violent acts of terrorism and to travel to Syria and join ISIS himself.“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil;
“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS,“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil. and in May 2018, he was sentenced to four years in prison.“Three Florida Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs, May 16, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-florida-men-sentenced-conspiring-provide-material-support-isis. He was released in December 2019.“DARREN ARNESS JACKSON,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed April 1, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/.

Darren Arness Jackson is from West Palm Beach, Florida.“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil. Little is known about his personal life, but he reportedly lived with his wife and three daughters in their late teens and was an unemployed boiler maintenance worker.John Pacenti, “ISIS in Florida: Former FBI agent on why arrests didn’t come sooner,” Palm Beach Post, July 24, 2017, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime--law/isis-florida-former-fbi-agent-why-arrests-didn-come-sooner/Pezdh6eBg1C3B1zVDMKVuI/;
Paula McMahon, “Guilty pleas expected for two Palm Beach County men arrested in terror sting,” Sun Sentinel, March 14, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-reg-palm-beach-terror-sting-update-20170314-story.html. In 2015, Hubbard was contacted by a confidential FBI informant pretending to be an ISIS follower.Jane Musgrave, “NEW: Lake Park man pleads guilty to trying to help ISIS,” Palm Beach Post, March 29, 2017, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime--law/new-lake-park-man-pleads-guilty-trying-help-isis/ZSNaFgWr2pw0K8wMdXgsRO/;
Paula McMahon, “Second man pleads guilty in Palm Beach terrorism sting,” Sun Sentinel, April 4, 2017, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-pn-terrorism-sting-plea-palm-beach-20170403-story.html;
“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 5, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. The FBI informant would record over 200 hours of conversation among Christian, Jackson, and Hubbard over the course of the next year.Jane Musgrave, “Second PBC man pleads guilty in plot to help ISIS,” Palm Beach Post, April 4, 2017, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime--law/second-pbc-man-pleads-guilty-plot-help-isis/8o3UPtnn7sX8YgYv0trNCP/. The men reportedly used code words to communicate, including the phrase “soccer team” in reference to ISIS, and “playing soccer” in reference to violent activity.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 5, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

Although the FBI source befriended Hubbard and Christian in the summer of 2015, Hubbard did not introduce the FBI source to Jackson until May 11, 2016.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 4-5, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. According to the criminal complaint filed against him, Jackson had previously intended to travel abroad to join ISIS, but then decided he wanted to learn Arabic before doing so.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 5, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. On May 11, Jackson, Hubbard, and the FBI source went to a local shooting range and used firearms that Jackson had provided. Jackson remarked that he felt persecuted because he was Muslim and assumed that the others at the shooting range were training to kill Muslims.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 5-6, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. On July 9, Jackson again went shooting with Hubbard and the FBI source at a remote South Florida wildlife management area, supplying five of his own firearms.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 18, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

On July 14, Jackson agreed to drive Hubbard and the FBI agent to Miami International Airport, in full awareness that they intended to travel overseas to join ISIS in Syria. He also agreed to supply his firearms for another target practice intended to “prepare Hubbard and the [FBI agent] to fight for ISIL [ISIS],” according to the criminal complaint filed against him. At this time, Jackson also remarked that he wished that he could do more to help them and that he could go to Syria himself, and advised them to “lie to the passport people about where they were going.” The following day, Jackson made plans with Hubbard and the FBI agent for their target practice. Although he was not aware that a terrorist attack had occurred in Nice, France, the previous day, he exclaimed “Allah Akhbar” when the FBI agent told him about it.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 19, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

Jackson, Christian, the FBI agent, and another unnamed individual held target practice on July 16. Jackson again supplied weapons, as well as gun oil and paper targets. According to the criminal complaint filed against him, he referred to the practice as a “training session,” and gave “detailed firearms instruction” to the FBI source. During the session, the group spoke approvingly of the attack in Nice.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 19-20, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf. Two days later, on July 18, Jackson met with Hubbard and the FBI agent, who discussed the logistics of their travel to Syria. Jackson and Hubbard praised the shooting of police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that had occurred the previous day. The group also discussed the merits of one of Jackson’s rifles.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 20-21, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf.

On July 21, 2016, Jackson drove Hubbard and the FBI agent in his car from West Palm Beach to Miami International Airport, so that they could depart on a flight bound for Berlin, Germany, from where they planned to travel to Syria to join ISIS. After he dropped them off, Jackson was arrested after he drove off of the airport premises.“United States of America v. Gregory Hubbard, Dayne Antani Christian, and Darren Arness Jackson,” George Washington University’s Center for Cyber & Homeland Security, July 22, 2016, 21, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Hubbard%20Complaint.pdf;
“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil.

On July 26, 2016, Jackson was indicted with a charge of conspiracy to provide personnel to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, as he had provided firearms and firearms training to the FBI undercover and Hubbard, who intended to travel to Syria, and expressed a desire to join ISIS himself.  On April 4, 2017, Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.“Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 4, 2017, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/two-florida-men-plead-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-isil.

On May 16, 2018, Jackson was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, after cooperating with the U.S. government. His co-conspirators were sentenced on the same day: Christian was sentenced to eight years in prison and five years post-release supervision, while Hubbard was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a lifetime of post-release supervision.“Three Florida Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs, May 16, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-florida-men-sentenced-conspiring-provide-material-support-isis.

Jackson was released from prison on December 17, 2019.“DARREN ARNESS JACKSON,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed April 1, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/.