A dual citizen of the United States and Albania, Erald Alimehmeti, has been arrested in New York on charges related to alleged attempts to support ISIS and distributing instructions for making explosives. The arrest follows a series of activities spanning several years.

Alimehmeti, 33, originally from the Bronx, New York, moved to Tirana, Albania in 2014. He was previously imprisoned in Albania from late 2015 to 2019 and again from late 2020 to 2022 for offenses involving weapons and assault.

Court documents reveal that between his prison terms, Alimehmeti engaged with others online through encrypted messaging apps and social media about planning attacks for ISIS. In 2019, he showed interest in sniper-style attacks and sought collaboration with confidential sources for operations. He requested tactical equipment such as vests and magazine pouches for ISIS-related training.

His online activities also included posting pro-ISIS propaganda between 2019 and 2020. He praised ISIS leaders like Shaykh ul-Haqq Musa Cerantonio and Abu Yahya al-Libi on social media platforms.

Alimehmeti reportedly compiled resources on chemical mixing and explosives-making, sharing these with a confidential source. On an encrypted channel, he posted links to documents on explosives-making and firearms-handling.

He faces charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS and distributing information related to explosives. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.

The investigation is led by the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force with contributions from various international law enforcement agencies including those in Albania and Australia.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley and Jane Y. Chong are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Jessica K. Fender.

The charges against Alimehmeti are currently allegations; he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.