Full Breakdown
FBI Arrests Three U.S. Citizens Over Alleged ISIS Support Plot
6/6/2026, 5:54:21 AM
Arrests Over Alleged ISIS Support Plot
On Friday, June 5 2026, the FBI arrested three U.S. citizens—Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, of Leawood, Kansas; Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, of Porterville, California; and Bereen Dzayee, 25, of Lakeside, California—in coordinated raids in Kansas City, San Diego, and Sacramento. Prosecutors allege the men conspired to provide material support to the Islamic State (ISIS), discussed violent attacks on U.S. service members, and sought to fund weapons through a cryptocurrency scheme.
Background and Timeline
The Department of Justice says the suspects began communicating in February 2025, believing they were in contact with an ISIS operative. Exchanges continued through June 2026 and covered plans to supply personnel, services, and money. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, assisted by field offices in Richmond and Newark, investigated the case and secured the June 5 arrests.
Key Individuals and Alleged Activities
Ghafoor allegedly expressed a desire to behead a female soldier and to have his name on a weapon—described in one source as a drone and in another as a rocket-propelled grenade. Shamsaldeen allegedly provided funds for drones, while Dzayee suggested targeting U.S. Special Forces. All three reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS via Discord chats, voice calls, and other messaging platforms, and discussed traveling abroad to fight for the group.
Quantitative Details
The alleged funding exceeded $2,000. The suspects were ages 21, 21, and 25 and resided in Leawood, Kansas; Porterville, California; and Lakeside, California. Their communications spanned February 2025 to June 2026.
Official Statements and Responses
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency stopped the plot before it could be carried out. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg noted the defendants will face justice in court. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the arrests as evidence of a strong counter-terrorism stance. U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser emphasized the need for inter-jurisdictional collaboration to address domestic terrorism threats.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These subjects allegedly swore allegiance to ISIS, plotted multiple attacks, and even targeted U.S. service members — but this FBI stopped them cold,” — Kash Patel, FBI Director
- “Thanks to the work of the FBI, their plans to betray their country in the gravest way lies in ruin. Instead, these defendants will face justice in our courts.” — John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security
- “This administration has put terrorists, cartels, and gangs on notice,” — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General
- “For years, the Department of Justice has been encouraging Americans that if they see suspicious activity, they should report it to law enforcement. That’s because long gone are the days where terrorist threats and attacks are incidents that only take place far away on foreign soil,” — Ryan A. Kriegshauser, U.S. Attorney, District of Kansas
Conflicting Details and Gaps
The complaint cites Ghafoor’s name on a drone, while another source references a rocket-propelled grenade, leaving the intended weapon unclear. The alleged messages have not been independently verified, creating gaps in the public record regarding their exact content.
Implications and Next Steps
The arrests underscore ongoing domestic counter-terrorism efforts and raise concerns about cryptocurrency financing of violent extremism. The men face charges of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization and remain detained pending arraignment. Federal prosecutors indicate the case will proceed through the federal court system, where the alleged facts will be tested.
