Virginia man on FBI 'Most Wanted Terrorists' list indicted in federal court

A Virginia man who fled the United States eight years ago has been indicted for providing support to the al Shabab terrorist group in Somalia.

A grand jury indicted Liban Haji Mohamed, 34, in federal district court on Tuesday. Mohamed, who is a Somali-born U.S. citizen, is thought to have left the country in 2012, bound for East Africa to join al Shabab militants. Al Shabab has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda and is responsible for killing hundreds of civilians.

Mohamed allegedly tried to recruit an undercover FBI agent to go to Somalia and provide combat training to the terrorist group. According to court documents, he also expressed the intent to help al Shabab recruit Westerners to join its cause by using his language and media skills.

Mohamed was added to the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorists” list in 2015 and has been flagged by Interpol as a global fugitive since his disappearance in 2012. The FBI is also offering up to $50,000 for information leading to Mohamed’s arrest and conviction. Mohamed was known to be an associate of Zachary Chesser, a 30-year-old Virginian who is serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison for providing material support to al Shabab.

If Mohamed is arrested and convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. The FBI is asking anyone who has information about him to come forward.