Teen rescued from New Mexico compound
The teen rescued from a New Mexico compound stated he was being trained for Jihad.
A 13-year-old boy on what investigators have described as an extremist Muslim compound in New Mexico said he was being trained to commit "jihad" against people with different beliefs, according to a report Saturday.
The teen told investigators that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40, wanted to "get an army together" and train the group of 11 children for jihad, Reuters reported citing federal court documents.
Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40, wanted to "get an army together" and train the group of 11 children living on the compound in New Mexico for jihad, according to a report. (Taos County Sheriff's Office)
Wahhaj was the father of Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, the 3-year-old boy whose body turned up in an underground tunnel at the compound and whose disappearance led investigators to the group.
The FBI arrests 5 residents of New Mexico compound
The federal criminal complaint charges them with violating federal firearms and conspiracy laws.
The teen said his mother was dating Wahhaj, and that the man trained him and another teenager on the compound "in firearms and military techniques, including rapid reloads and hand-to-hand combat," according to an affidavit.
Wahhaj — whose father reportedly was linked to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center as an unindicted co-conspirator and is an imam at a mosque in New York City — allegedly told the teens that jihad meant they were to kill those who did not believe in Allah.
The teen's mother believed that God had sent her messages, according to the teen, who also said he watched her and Wahhaj perform "exorcism" rituals over the 3-year-old boy. In one of the rituals, the boy reportedly choked and his heart stopped.
INVESTIGATORS RAIDED NEW MEXICO COMPOUND ON TIP FROM TERROR-TIED NEW YORK CITY IMAM, CLERIC CLAIMS
The adults at the compound, including the boy's mother, Jany Leveille, 35, told everyone not to talk about Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj ever being at the compound because they would "all go to jail," the 13-year-old boy also said.
More on this story...
- 3 ‘extremist Muslim’ New Mexico compound suspects released after judge drops all charges
- Dad arrested at 'extremist' New Mexico compound planned 'exorcism,' tied to terror-linked imam, report says
- Moms arrested after 11 children found in 'filthy' New Mexico compound with armed Muslim 'extremists,' cops say
A raid of the compound on Aug. 3 — in search of the 3-year-old's body — showed that 11 children and five adults were living on the premises.
A judge on Wednesday dropped child neglect charges against three of the adults because of a missed deadline on behalf of local prosecutors.
The FBI then on Friday arrested all five of the adults on firearms and conspiracy charges, and the Taos County District Attorney said his office would seek grand jury indictments involving the 3-year-old boy's death.
The five defendants are scheduled to appear in court in Albuquerque on Tuesday.
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