Casey: ‘Homegrown extremeism’ must be addressed
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said Friday that the arrest of a Harrisburg man who allegedly supported ISIS is an example of “homegrown extremism” that needs to be addressed with more federal resources and community involvement.
“We have to have a very powerful, effective message that counters what ISIS and other extreme groups are doing,” said Casey, D-Scranton, in a conference call with reporters.
Casey said parents, relatives, friends, faith leaders and school and community officials will play a key role in identifying and reporting those interested in terrorist groups and combating the influence of those organizations on Americans.
“This is going to be a problem that’s solved mostly at a local level,” Casey said, who added that the work must be supported by the federal government.
That might include changes to allow people with tips to approach authorities without fear of being arrested and charged themselves, Casey said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to get people closest to these individuals to come forward,” he said.
Casey said the arrest of 19-year-old Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz and the Dec. 2 San Bernardino, Calif., attack carried out by an American of Pakistani heritage and his Pakistani-born wife are the latest examples of how “lone wolf” domestic terrorists – those sympathetic to, but unsupported by terrorist groups – can take root, something he anticipates will take a generation to counter.
Investigators have said Aziz used more than 50 Twitter accounts to spread ISIS and other terrorist-related propaganda. They also say he recruited people to join ISIS and tried to help them travel to Syria.
In the criminal complaint charging Aziz with conspiring and attempting to support a foreign terrorist organization, the FBI said he “espouses violent jihadist beliefs and is a fervent supporter” of ISIS.
Aziz was also found with high-capacity gun magazines and other ammunition, but Casey said he has not received any information confirming that the Harrisburg teen planned to carry out his own attack or that he had guns.
The FBI agent who filed the complaint said he believed that Aziz “may be preparing to conduct or assist others in conducting an attack in the United States” based on the ammunition found.
On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville, Lehigh County, released a statement saying that Aziz’s arrest “is another wake-up call about the spread of violent Islamist extremism … We must remain vigilant in the face of this mounting threat.”
Casey also said that the government needs to work more closely with social media sites, such as Twitter, that are addressing issues involving possible terrorists and sympathizers. “Government dictation will probably not work,” he said.
Besides the social media and community angles, Casey said he will find out if the FBI has sufficient resources to focus on homegrown terrorism suspects and sympathizers.
“I hope (the answer) is not no,” Casey said, “but if it is no that means Democrats and Republicans and independents in the House and the Senate need to do what taxpayers expect us to do: Focus on a problem, focus on a solution and then fund it.”
While no weapons besides a knife were found at Aziz’s home, Casey said the case still illustrates the need for gun reform. There remains “a gaping loophole” in the law that allows those on no-fly lists to own guns, he said.
Casey also suggested Pennsylvanians read the paragraph in the complaint in which the FBI quotes Aziz as tweeting in March of this year that, “Pennsylvania have very light gun laws its very easy to arm yourself.”
That sentiment alone should give people pause, Casey said. “The bad guys are going to places where they believe they can be successful in furthering the aims of the terrorists,” he said.