Edmonton man accused of funding ISIS recruits extradited to U.S
Abdullahi Ahmed Abdullahi’s charge of armed robbery in Edmonton was stayed on Oct 18
A 34-year-old man being held in Edmonton on a charge of armed robbery has been extradited to the United States to face terrorism charges.
Abdullahi Ahmed Abdullahi, a Canadian citizen and former resident of San Diego, was awaiting trial in January for allegedly robbing an Edmonton jewelry store in 2014 to fund his cousins who fought for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
- U.S. extradition postponed for Edmonton cousin of ISIS recruits
- Man accused of Edmonton jewelry store heist to fund ISIS fighters
Instead, the charge was stayed on Oct. 18, court records show. Charges against two co-accused were stayed in August.
The charges were stayed because the Crown did not think there was a reasonable likelihood of conviction, a spokesperson for Alberta Justice told CBC in an email, adding Abdullahi was extradited to the United States to face charges there.
Abdullahi, who was sent to California on Oct. 24, appeared in Federal Court in San Diego the next day on charges he conspired with others to provide material support to terrorists engaged in killing and kidnapping in Syria.
Prosecutors argued Abdullahi should be detained because he is a flight risk and danger to the community.
"Terrorist networks like ISIS cannot exist without supporters," said U.S. attorney Robert Brewer in a news release on Oct 25.
In a two-count indictment, Abdullahi is accused of supporting a cluster of terrorists in Canada and the U.S. that included three of his late cousins from Edmonton.
The indictment says Abdullahi conspired with ISIS from August 2013 to November 2014, providing personnel and money to the foreign fighters.
Alleged he facilitated travel for 5 ISIS recruits
Abdullahi facilitated the travel of at least three Canadians and two Americans, all reportedly killed fighting for ISIS, authorities say.
"I commend San Diego's Joint Terrorism Task Force and our interagency and international partners for their committed work which resulted in Abdullahi returning to the United States to answer for the crimes he is accused of committing," Scott Brunner, FBI special agent in charge, said in the release.
Abdullahi was arrested in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Sept. 15, 2017, after U.S. authorities filed an extradition request.
In June, Abdullahi lost his fight against extradition at the Court of Appeal of Alberta.