Minnesota man pleads guilty to attempting to join Islamic State
Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, 23, pleaded guilty Sept. 29, 2025 in federal court in St. Paul to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State after prosecutors say he twice tried in December to travel from Minnesota to Somalia to join militants, was observed flying an ISIS flag, and was arrested following an FBI investigation. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank; Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson warned of the serious domestic‑terrorism threat, and Hassan— a naturalized U.S. citizen—remains in custody with sentencing pending.
Crime
National Security
🔍 Key Facts
- Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, 23, pleaded guilty Sept. 29, 2025 to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (ISIS).
- Prosecutors say Hassan made two failed travel attempts in December 2024 to reach Somalia to fight, and FBI surveillance observed him driving with an ISIS flag the day before his February arrest.
- The crime carries a statutory maximum of 15 years; plea agreement details and sentencing date have not been set.