Homeland Security Today: Lionel Nelson Williams, 26, of Suffolk, Virginia was arrested in Suffolk Thursday and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or the Islamic State (IS), after appearing to have become self-radicalized after viewing online jihadist materials and videos, including videos made by former Los Cruces, New Mexico born Anwar Al Awlaki, who became a principal recruiter for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
According to the redacted affidavit in support of the criminal complaint against Williams, in October and November 2016 he sent money to a person he believed was collecting money for IS to purchase weapons and ammunition for IS fighters. Williams also posted content on social media indicating his support for IS and attacks targeting police officers, military and armed civilians, the kind of attack IS – and Al Qaeda – have repeatedly called for, as Homeland Security Today has reported.
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