Authorities in Texas arrested a man accused of “studying how to make bombs” for a possible attack on Jews, and the FBI director used his case as an example of the increased risk of terrorist attacks in the United States.
“We’ve already seen that with the person we arrested last week in Houston, who was studying how to make bombs and posted on the Internet his support for killing Jews,” FBI Director Chris Wray said during a congressional hearing this week. week.
The man he was referring to is 20-year-old Sohaib Abuayyash, FOX 26 confirmed from an FBI source. The FBI referred Fox News Digital to the public court documents, which show Abuayyash was in the country illegally.
Court documents obtained by the station say the Jordanian national arrived in the US on June 2, 2016 on a B2 tourist visa and left about two months later.
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Sohaib Abuayyash is the man FBI Director Christopher Wray was referring to during a congressional hearing, FOX 26 Houston has confirmed. (Obtained by FOX 26 Houston)
“Using a Palestinian passport, Abuayyash returned to the United States in June 2019. In January 2020, Abuayyash applied for a Petition for Asylum and Concealment of Removal, which is still pending. In August 2023, Abuayyash was approved for employment authorization in the United States, allowing him to work in the US until August 1, 2025. Abuayyash’s immigration status does not allow him to possess or use firearms or ammunition,” FOX 26 said.
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One of Sohaib Abuayyash’s social media posts had the words “Airsoft gun TikTok”. (Obtained by FOX 26 Houston)
Sohaib Abuayyash, a 20-year-old Jordanian national, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm. (Obtained by FOX 26 Houston)
Abuayyash was arrested in the Houston area in October for unlawful possession of a firearm, according to federal court documents.
A public defender for Abuayyash declined to comment to Fox News Digital.
He previously allegedly posted several images and videos of his firearms training on social media accounts.
According to CBS News, the judge’s order detaining him states that he “has made statements that he wants to go to Gaza to fight.”
Sohaib Abuayyash is seen at a shooting range in Texas. (Obtained by FOX 26 Houston)
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The FBI is not currently monitoring any credible threats against the U.S. from terrorist groups, Wray said Tuesday.
“Here in the United States our most immediate concern is that violent extremist individuals or small groups will draw inspiration from events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives,” Wray said, according to the Houston Public Media.
