FBI won't confirm report of Minn. man joining al-Shabab

Abdirizak Bihi
Abdirizak Bihi, seen here in a file photo, said a man from Minnesota has joined the terrorist group al-Shabab. The Minneapolis FBI office won't confirm that.
MPR File Photo/Laura Yuen

The Minneapolis FBI office won't confirm an Associated Press report that a man from Minnesota has joined the terrorist group al-Shabab.

The AP cites Abdirizak Bihi, a member of the Minneapolis Somali community, who says he's talked to the man's aunt and friends. Bihi wouldn't identify them.

Bihi said about 10 months ago, 21-year-old Omar Farah told friends he was traveling to East Africa, then disappeared. Bihi said a few weeks ago Farah called his aunt and told her he was in a small Somali town with al-Shabab.

"She mentioned that he was recruited, that he was being radicalized lately, that we was not having a good relationship with family, that he was becoming lonely and only connected to certain people," Bihi said.

Bihi said Farah's family wanted to inform the media so people know the danger of al-Shabab recruitment. He said he can't confirm the family has informed law enforcement. Agent EK Wilson of the FBI said he cannot confirm an investigation or recent departure.

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