- The Washington Times - Friday, May 22, 2015

Two Minneapolis men are accused of using student aid loans in their efforts to join the Islamic State group.

Hamza Ahmed, 20, and Hanad Mustafe Musse, 19, have each been charged by the federal government with fraud for allegedly using more than $1,000 in aid to help fund a journey to Syria. They are also charged with conspiracy to fight alongside terrorists.

The indictment against the two men was unsealed Tuesday, the Star Tribune reported. They are part of a group of seven Somali-Americans from Minnesota who allegedly tried to join the Sunni radical terror group.

Mr. Ahmed was arrested on Nov. 8 after boarding a flight at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, the newspaper reported. Mr. Musse was arrested in Minneapolis on April 19.

The FBI says that more than 20 Somali-Americans from the state have already left the U.S. to fight with the Islamic State group, the paper reported.

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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