Western New York man attempted to support IS group

Nagi, 42, of Lackawanna, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

A member of the Muslim community in Lackawanna, near Buffalo, New York, tipped the FBI to Arafat Nagi.

He had reportedly purchased military gear including night-vision goggles, and his social media accounts and travel records were checked during the investigation.

“In addition to pledging support to this organization, on two separate occasions Nagi traveled from Lackawanna, New York, to Turkey with the intention of joining ISIL”, Hochul said during a Wednesday morning news conference.

“The (Joint Terrorism Task Force) in Buffalo relies on community engagement…to deter recruitment and the spread of radicalization messages, ” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Boetig. Officers responding to the call later found a knife in Nagi’s vehicle. In that conversation, which investigators believe was with a cousin, Nagi said, “I’m good not anxious I wanted help the Syrian people I feel for them walla my heart bleeds for them (…) Bad”.

Lackawanna native and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says to hear any American might have planned to join ISIS comes as a disappointment.

Federal officials said Nagi had been on their radar “for about a year”. He was planning another trip, to Syria by way of Turkey and Yemen, within a few months, the complaint said. “It is your paradise, rather, slaughter”.

The 44-year-old is said to have traveled to Turkey two times in attempts to link up with the terrorist group. A law enforcement truck remained parked outside his house Wednesday afternoon following a raid earlier in the day.