KARREM NASR, also known as "Ghareeb Al-Muhajir," has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The announcement was made by Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Nasr's plea took place before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.
"Karrem Nasr devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies," said U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon. She noted that Nasr, a U.S. citizen inspired by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, traveled from Egypt to Kenya with intentions of joining al Shabaab.
Nasr is a 24-year-old who moved from New Jersey to Egypt in July 2023. By November 2023, he expressed his plans to join al Shabaab and wage jihad in communications with an FBI confidential source posing as a facilitator for terrorist organizations.
In these communications and online postings, Nasr described America as "evil" and the "head of the snake." He warned that "Jihad" was "coming soon to a US location near you." He expressed his intent to join al Shabaab for military training and declared his willingness to become a martyr for the cause.
Nasr took concrete steps towards this goal by making travel arrangements to Kenya with plans to meet al Shabaab members for further travel into Somalia. On December 14, 2023, he flew from Egypt to Kenya but was taken into custody by Kenyan authorities later that day. He returned to the U.S. on December 28, 2023.
Nasr pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which could result in up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for June 30, 2025.
Ms. Sassoon praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force for their work on this case and thanked various international agencies for their assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher, Kimberly J. Ravener, Stephen Ritchin, and Trial Attorney Jennifer Burke of the Counterterrorism Section.