Earlier this month we told you about an Iraq-born American Airlines mechanic who was charged with sabotaging an airplane before it took off. It was said that he was upset about stalled negotiations between American Airlines and his mechanics’ union. But now it turns out that he might have ties to ISIS:
A Miami aircraft maintenance worker who allegedly tampered with an American Airlines plane over the summer has possible terrorist ties with the Islamic State, prosecutors say. https://t.co/5TEj5zY01t
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 18, 2019
Prosecutor say he had ISIS propaganda on his phone and a brother in ISIS:
A Miami aircraft maintenance worker who allegedly tampered with an American Airlines plane over the summer has possible terrorist ties with the Islamic State, prosecutors said in court Wednesday.
Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani, 60, is being held without bond after a judge ruled that Alani posed a flight risk after prosecutors argued that the mechanic had a brother who was a member of ISIS.
Alani, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Iraq who has worked as an airline mechanic for 30 years, allegedly had ISIS propaganda on his phone, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Medetis said. A video depicting people being shot was allegedly sent from his phone. Alani also told the individual he sent the video to that he wanted Allah to cause harm to non-Muslims, prosecutors say.
Two witnesses also told prosecutors that Alani mentioned to them he had a brother who was in ISIS, but gave conflicting accounts according to the prosecutor.
An American Airlines coworker claimed that Alani said he had to go to Iraq to visit a brother who was a member of ISIS, but a roommate alleged Alani said he had to go because his brother was kidnapped.
Investigators found no evidence of the brother being kidnapped on the phone, nor did prosecutors provide evidence of a brother in ISIS.
I said last time that Alani would have a hard time convincing people that he didn’t have ulterior motives. And that was BEFORE the ISIS propaganda and the possible ISIS brother.
I really hated to make assumptions just based on his name and his country of origin, but now it’s really looking a lot more like this is a legitimate case of terrorism. And I’m glad prosecutors aren’t scared to go this route because…you know, islamophobia.