The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday, Nov. 13, lauded the conviction in the United States of a Kenyan terrorist who was caught in the Philippines in 2020.
“This conviction shows the importance of our work in keeping high-risk individuals out of the country, as well as dismantling terrorist operations,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado in a statement.
“Our commitment to national and global security is unwavering,” he assured.
Kenyan national Cholo Abdi Abdullah, 34, was found guilty by a jury in New York of six counts indictment that included conspiring to provide, and providing, material support to a foreign terrorist organization; and conspiring to murder US nationals, commit aircraft piracy, destroy aircraft, and commit transnational acts of terrorism.
Abdullah is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2025.
“Abdullah, an alleged operative of the terrorist group al-Shabaab, had been deported from the Philippines in 2020 after his arrest by BI intelligence officers and Anti-Terrorist Group,” the BI said.
It also said: "He was arrested by the BI in July 2020 through a mission order after he was found to be in violation of immigration laws. Hewas also detained by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for violating laws on firearms and explosives, and was later identified as a high-risk individual due to his links to a terrorist organization."
It noted that “Abdullah had trained in Somalia before moving to the Philippines, where he enrolled in flight school in 2018.”
“Reports showed he was preparing to commit a 9/11 attack in the US. The BI’s action in arresting and deporting Abdullah ultimately prevented him from advancing his plot,” it also said.