Somalis in Twin Cities fear arrest in terror probes

Tension is growing within the Minneapolis Somali community as it awaits the next indictments in the federal probe of the disappearances of young men who became fighters in their homeland's ongoing warfare.

So far, three Somali men have pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges. Now several others -- who either know the men or were considering returning to their homeland to fight for a terrorist group -- are waiting to learn whether they, too, have been targeted by federal investigators.

Stephen L. Smith, a Minneapolis attorney who has counseled up to 20 local Somalis questioned by federal agents over the past 10 months, said recently that a number of people have contacted him and expressed "a heightened sense of concern" that they may be in legal jeopardy.

E.K. Wilson, special agent for the FBI in Minneapolis, has declined to comment on the case, but it is believed that new indictments may soon be announced. Wilson has said that the investigation is far from finished.

The key for investigators is determining who recruited the men to return to Somalia to fight and who paid for their travel.

A federal grand jury in Minneapolis continues to meet and hear testimony in the case. One of Smith's clients testified before the grand jury a few weeks ago. Other local Somalis are expected to testify in coming weeks.

"I do know that agents are still out there still contacting people and trying to conduct interviews," Smith said. "It's going to go on for a while."

Anxiety rising

The indictments that led to the three plea agreements so far stem from what has become a sweeping international investigation into the worldwide recruitment of Somali expatriates to return and engage in jihad.

That investigation has centered on Minneapolis, where up to 20 men of Somali descent left to return to their homeland to fight. Many of the men are known to have joined Al-Shabaab, an Islamic group branded by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization.

Under federal law, it's illegal for a U.S. citizen to fight in a foreign conflict. It is also illegal for Americans to support, in any way, a terrorist group.

Five men who left to fight have since died in Somalia, including Shirwa Ahmed, 26, who is believed to be the first U.S. citizen to commit a suicide bombing.

Three others now sit in jail awaiting sentencing for their role in traveling to Somalia and training with or fighting for al-Shabaab. Those men are believed to be cooperating with investigators.

At least a half-dozen Twin Cities men who left Minnesota over the past two years to fight remain in Somalia, according to family members and other sources in the local Somali community.

At least one man has returned to the Twin Cities and is fearful of being apprehended, Somali sources say.

Another man who was recruited by Shirwa Ahmed but decided not to go also is afraid he may be arrested, a friend in Minneapolis said.

'Guilt by association'

Smith, the attorney, said he was initially approached in November 2008 by a man who was recruited to go to Somalia to fight Ethiopian troops who occupied that country from July 2006 to this past January. Smith said the man didn't know at the time that leaving the country to fight someplace else is illegal.

Smith said the man was part of a group that included three or four other Somalis who planned to leave the country last fall to train and fight. The man was initially motivated by stories of atrocities committed by Ethiopian troops against Somali women and children. He changed his mind after Ethiopian troops prepared to leave Somalia.

"He chose to stay but the others went anyway," Smith said.

He now worries that he'll face criminal charges anyway.

"You can find yourself getting caught up in the conspiracy dragnet," Smith said.

Others who have contacted Smith worry that simply knowing some of the men who left for Somalia might land them in jail.

He said they wonder, "When will I get a call from the FBI? When will I get a knock on my door?"

"The whole idea of guilt by association is very prevalent [among] certain members of the community," Smith said.

richm@startribune.com • 612-673-4425 jwalsh@startribune.com • 612-673-7428