Law enforcement thwarted a planned attack on an LGBTQ site in Philadelphia by apprehending Tajik migrants suspected of ISIS affiliations.
At a Glance
- A group of Tajik migrants with suspected ISIS ties planned an attack on an LGBTQ establishment in Philadelphia.
- The eight suspects crossed the southern border, some using the CBP One phone app, and were not initially flagged for terrorism ties.
- They were arrested in a multi-state sting operation spanning New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
- One suspect was caught on wiretap discussing bombs, revealing their intentions to harm perceived infidels.
- Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the FBI commented on the matter.
Operation to Thwart Attack on LGBTQ Site
Law enforcement officials thwarted a premeditated attack on an LGBTQ establishment in Philadelphia by arresting Tajik migrants suspected of having ties to ISIS. These individuals, exploiting the U.S. southern border entry system, managed to enter the country using the CBP One phone app. Despite crossing the border undetected for terrorism ties, the suspects were later apprehended thanks to intelligence and monitored communications.
The arrest involved a coordinated effort among law enforcement in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. This multi-state sting operation underscored the collaborative effort required to address such threats. Wiretapped communications revealed one of the suspects discussing bombs, further emphasizing the severity of the plot. Details about the exact nature of the planned attack remain unclear, but their intention to target “infidels” was confirmed through the investigation.
SCOOP: The group of Tajik migrants with suspected ties to ISIS scooped up by ICE in June had been planning an attack on an LGBTQ establishment in Philadelphia and looked to target “infidels” before they were pinched in June, sources tell me.https://t.co/bgNIM5BStg
— Jennie Taer 🎗️ (@JennieSTaer) September 19, 2024
Security Concerns at the Southern Border
The incident highlights significant security weaknesses at the southern border. The fact that these eight suspects were not initially flagged for terrorism ties raises pressing questions about the effectiveness of current border security measures. FBI Director Chris Wray had previously warned about ISIS exploiting the open southern border. Wray also disclosed concerns about potential coordinated attacks on US soil, emphasizing the increasing number of migrants with suspected terror ties due to the surge in illegal border crossings under the Biden-Harris administration.
“I want to be a little bit careful how far I can go in open session, but there is a particular network that, where some of the overseas facilitators of the smuggling network have ISIS ties that we’re very concerned about and that we’ve been spending enormous amount of effort with our partners investigating,” the FBI director said in response to a question from Sen. Marco Rubio
Border security remains a critical issue, highlighted by multiple incidents where migrants with known or suspected terror ties slipped through the cracks. Border Patrol agents have caught a record number of migrants on the terror watchlist in recent years, yet some manage to evade detection. This lapse led to situations where individuals like Mohammad Kharwin, a suspected member of Hezb-e-Islami, were released into the US only to be rearrested later.
Implications for Border Control Policies
The arrest of these Tajik migrants is just one example of the broader security concerns at the southern border. Incidents involving terrorist affiliations are on the rise. Law enforcement’s ability to monitor and apprehend such individuals is crucial in preventing potential attacks on American soil. This incident underscores the urgent need for robust border control policies and enhanced international cooperation to track and intercept individuals with terror links before they reach the US.
“The group of Tajik migrants with suspected ties to ISIS had been planning an attack on an LGBTQ establishment in Philadelphia and looked to target “infidels” before they were pinched.
These ongoing vulnerabilities underscore the necessity for stringent measures to protect the nation’s borders and ensure the safety of its citizens. Stories like these serve as a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritize national security and foster collaboration to address terrorism and illegal immigration effectively.
