(USNewsMag.com) – In a coordinated sting operation across three cities, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency ICE arrested six Russians suspected of having terrorist ties to ISIS.
The six suspected terrorists, from Tajikistan, were arrested in New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia after the FBI contacted ICE, warning of a potential bomb plot.
The concern began when one of the suspects was heard in a wiretap talking about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The suspect stated, “I’m afraid something like that might happen again or worse.”
All of the suspects, including the one heard in the wiretapping, were released by federal authorities after being caught at the southern border. The suspect heard in the recording has a court date of 2025. However, since they were released after being captured, authorities learned of their potential ties to ISIS. Two of the men entered the United States after illegally crossing the border in the spring of 2023, while one used the CBP One app to enter the country.
“Several non-citizens” were arrested by ICE agents, who were working with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces, according to a statement from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. Those arrested are in the custody of ICE, “pending removal proceedings.”
The arrests follow FBI Director Chris Wray’s April warning to lawmakers that a “coordinated attack” such as the one carried out by ISIS-K on a concert hall in Moscow could take place on U.S. soil, noting ISIS terrorists could exploit the open border.
In March, Wray informed the Senate Intelligence Committee about a human smuggling operation with ties to ISIS terrorist groups at the border.
ISIS-K, or Islamic State Khorasan, is an extreme offshoot of the Islamic State militant group, which was founded in 2014. Western leaders have issued warnings that the group, which focused its efforts on Russia, could conduct attacks in the United States and Europe.
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