March 3, 2015

Two Indicted for Making Terrorist Hoax

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—Today, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging ISRAA JAFAR ALI, 19, from Oklahoma City, and SAJJAD HUSSEIN AL FEHAIDAH, 23, from Saudi Arabia, with conspiracy to make a terrorist hoax and for making a terrorist hoax, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that on September 19, 2014, Ms. Ali made a 911 call to the Edmond Police Department using the cell phone of her boyfriend, Mr. Al Fenaidah. Ms. Ali allegedly reported that a Saudi Arabian international male student would commit a suicide bombing at an unspecified Christian church near the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) campus within two to three weeks by strapping ion himself an explosive device (a bomb laden vest containing nails) to kill a number of people. It is alleged that Mr. Al Fenaidah provided Ms. Ali his cell phone to make the false report and accessed his Facebook account to research biographical information on the Saudi Arabian male to provide to Ali. The indictment alleges that the purpose of the conspiracy by Ali and Fehaidah was to retaliate against the Saudi Arabian male international student.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy count and up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the terrorist hoax count. Reference is made to the court record for further information. The public is reminded this is simply a charge and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Edmond Police Department and the following members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force who assisted in the investigation: the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the United States Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Kumiega.