Alleged Fil-Am jihadist arrested in New York

NEW YORK — Police here arrested a Filipino-American near LaGuardia Airport after various types of weapons were allegedly discovered in the car he was driving on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

The court did not allow the suspect, a 27-year-old male from Jamaica, Queens, New York, to be released due to his possible connection to a terrorist group.

The New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York Police Department (NYPD), is currently investigating the suspect's background.

An initial digital forensic examination of the suspect's social media and electronics revealed that he is an extreme jihadist. It is not yet clear in the police investigation whether the suspect had plans to commit terrorism on the day he was arrested. 

When the police searched the suspect's car, they recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun, eight loaded magazines, two axes, multiple knives, a stun gun, an NYPD patch, an MTA vest, a bulletproof vest, and handcuffs.

Also found written on the expandable baton recovered from the suspect's vehicle were the Arabic words "God forgive me."

The police stopped the suspect's vehicle due to its suspicious registration, which led to the discovery of the weapons.

The court did not grant bail to the suspect, who is facing charges of two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; 10 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree; unlawful possession of pistol or revolver ammunition; unlawful use of police uniform or emblem and issuance, number, location, and condition of vehicle plate.

"We must protect our city. When a person is pulled over and found to possess a loaded semi-automatic gun, more than 170 total rounds of ammunition, multiple weapons, body armor, an NYPD patch, and an MTA vest just a few blocks from the airport, we are very concerned," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

The suspect faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. —KBK, GMA Integrated News