NEW YORK (Sputnik) — Several knives and a sword were found in the house of Arafat Nagi charged with attempting to provide support to ISIL, Assistant US Attorney Tim Lynch said during a press conference on Friday.
“Tactical knives as well as several large knives were found in the house,” Lynch said. “A sword was also found in the garage of the residence.”
Nagi, 42, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIL. He is facing up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“ISIL obviously uses swords to commit beheadings and obviously he had those similar type of items at his residence,” Lynch added.
According to the US Justice Department, Nagi pledged allegiance to the ISIL and the leader of the terrorist group, Abu Bakr al Bagdadi.
Moreover, Nagi traveled to Turkey in 2012 and 2014 to meet ISIL members, and planned to travel to Yemen and Turkey again soon.
Nagi remains in custody as he awaits a preliminary hearing that was scheduled for August 12.
The ISIL is a Sunni militant group in control of large areas of Syria and Iraq. The group is notorious for its brutality and many human rights violations, as well as for recruiting young people from all over the world via social networks.