Texas Man Arrested for Planning ISIS-Related Terror Attack in Houston
A man in Texas is in FBI custody after attempting to support ISIS and planning a terrorist attack from his Houston apartment. Authorities arrested Said last week at his apartment complex.
FBI Special Agent Doug Williams stated that while in custody, Said confessed to researching attacks on military recruiting centers. He offered his home as a hideout for ISIS members and claimed he would carry out a “9/11-style” attack if he had the resources. He also attempted to produce ISIS propaganda.
FBI Houston announced, “We stopped a potential terrorist attack from happening right here in Houston!” A detention hearing for Said is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in federal court.
Said has been on the FBI’s radar since 2017 when tips indicated he purchased stickers showing support for ISIS. He was interviewed by the FBI four times in 2018 about these sticker purchases. During one interview, he admitted that the stickers showed support for ISIS but claimed he did not support violence.
How does the FBI utilize family insights in counterterrorism investigations?
Interview with FBI Special Agent Doug Williams on the Recent Houston ISIS Arrest
News Directory 3: Special Agent Williams, thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent arrest of Said in Houston. Can you provide an overview of the case and how the FBI became aware of him?
Doug Williams: Thank you for having me. Said’s case dates back to 2017 when our agency received tips indicating his purchase of ISIS-supportive stickers. This raised concerns, and he was interviewed by the FBI multiple times in 2018, where he admitted his support for ISIS but claimed he did not endorse violence. Our investigation revealed that he had been endorsing ISIS ideology since 2015.
News Directory 3: What specifically led to his arrest last week?
Doug Williams: Our intelligence indicated that Said had escalated his intentions to support ISIS significantly. He made confessions while in custody, expressing plans to attack military recruiting centers and even suggesting that he would carry out a “9/11-style” attack if provided with the necessary resources. Moreover, he offered his apartment as a hideout for ISIS members and was actively attempting to produce propaganda.
News Directory 3: The FBI mentioned that he had previously claimed to have stopped consuming radical propaganda. What does this indicate about his mindset?
Doug Williams: It’s a concerning contradiction. Although he claimed to have distanced himself from radical ideas in a 2019 interview, new information we received just weeks ago, on October 18, showed that he remained engaged with ISIS propaganda and supported their violent actions. It highlights the challenges we face in monitoring individuals who can easily revert to extremist ideologies.
News Directory 3: Family concerns were noted during previous interviews. How does familial feedback impact investigations like this?
Doug Williams: Family insights can be invaluable. They sometimes provide us with critical information about an individual’s behavior and beliefs that may not be visible to us in a formal interview setting. In Said’s case, his family’s concerns were part of what kept him on our radar, and their worries assisted in shaping the narrative we followed in our investigation.
News Directory 3: Can you tell us about the technology involved in this case? What evidence was found?
Doug Williams: The investigation revealed that Said had multiple encrypted messaging apps on his devices, which suggested he was attempting to communicate and disseminate ISIS propaganda. Additionally, during a search warrant execution, he resisted law enforcement and damaged his cell phone, which underscores the lengths to which he was willing to go to protect his activities.
News Directory 3: Given the recent developments, how does the FBI plan to proceed?
Doug Williams: We are currently preparing for Said’s detention hearing, scheduled for Thursday. Our focus will remain not only on this case but also on proactively identifying and disrupting potential threats before they escalate. We advise the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
News Directory 3: Thank you, Special Agent Williams, for your insights and for the work the FBI is doing to maintain public safety.
Doug Williams: Thank you for having me. Together, through awareness and communication, we can better protect our communities from potential threats.
The FBI revealed that Said began endorsing ISIS ideology in 2015. In a 2019 interview, he claimed he stopped consuming radical propaganda. However, on October 18, 2023, the FBI obtained information showing he continued to support ISIS and its violent actions.
Family members expressed worry about Said during FBI interviews. Investigators found multiple encrypted messaging apps on his devices, showing his attempts to create and share propaganda that praised ISIS violence. Said allegedly resisted FBI agents when they executed a search warrant on November 8 and damaged his cell phone.