Al Qaeda Supporter Indicted in Arkansas

The recent indictment of a Jihadi in Arkansas on material support for terrorism charges should serve as a reminder that America is still at the receiving end of a global jihadist insurgency and there are jihadi operatives in our midst.

Bilal Al-Rayanni, a 28-year-old Yemeni national living in Helena, Arkansas has been charged by a federal grand jury with supporting a terrorist organization.

The indictment alleges that Al-Rayanni, also known as Bilal Kassim Alawdi, provided material support and resources to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). According to the indictment, Al-Rayanni provided support by working as personnel for AQAP for three months in Yemen in 2014, knowing that the organization engaged in terrorism. Al-Rayanni lived in Arkansas prior to traveling to Yemen in 2014.

He was originally charged on July 11, 2019, in a one-count indictment charging him with making a false statement on a passport application in May of this year, alleging that he used a false name on the application. Al-Rayanni has been held in federal custody since originally arrested on the passport charge on June 27, 2019.

Evidently, Al-Rayanni surfaced on the FBI’s radar screen thanks to information provided by citizens. U.S. attorney Cody Hiland was quoted in a Justice Department press release:

“This particular investigation also highlights the critical value to our law enforcement agencies that originates from citizens who take the time and effort to report suspicious activity when it is observed.”

Combined, Al-Rayanni faces up to 35 years in prison.

The state of Arkansas has been one of America’s most vigilant states when it comes to the threat from terrorism, largely because the state has been no stranger to terrorism in the past.

Abdulhakim Mohammed, previously known as Carlos Bledsoe, carried out what was at the time the first jihadi attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. On June 1, 2009, Mohammed attacked a U.S. military recruiting station in Little Rock, killing U.S. Army Private Andy Long and wounding Private Quinton Ezeagwula. Mohammed had previously traveled to Yemen and received training in a jihadist training camp there.

This incident was detailed in the documentary film “Losing Our Sons.”

Largely as a result of the Little Rock attack, Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert authored legislation that became known as “Andy’s Law,” named for the slain Private Andy Long.

Andy’s Law empowers victims of terrorist acts and their families to recover damages and attorney’s fees from those who provide material support for terrorism. It also helps law enforcement seize assets including money used for terrorism.

Arkansas was the first state to pass such legislation back in 2013. Since then Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina and Kansas have passed identical “Andy’s Law” legislation.

It should be noted that “Andy’s Law” is facially neutral. While it was inspired by an act of jihad, it can be applied to any form of terrorist act and material support for terrorism, such as domestic terrorism.  It is quite possible that “Andy’s Law” could be used in the future to target white nationalists or leftist Antifa anarchists.