Law enforcement agencies have arrested nine Northern Virginia residents, including a former police officer, on charges of aiding the Islamic State, a government message to police says.
The Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center issued profiles of the nine in a Dec. 21 report labeled “law enforcement sensitive,” the Washington Times reports.
Such reports are designed to help state and federal agents recognize trends in the types of individuals who are influenced by the Islamic State’s message and how they communicate across terrorist networks.
Of the nine Northern Virginians who were arrested, all but one were in their teens and early 20s. They included a police officer, a Starbucks barista, Army soldiers, bankers and a cabdriver. Four of the nine graduated from Northern Virginia high schools, one with honors. Two attended Northern Virginia Community College.
Nicholas Young. The oldest of the nine at 36, has been charged with helping the Islamic State but has not faced trial. He graduated from West Potomac High School and worked as a Metro D.C. Transit police officer. He is accused of stockpiling weapons at his home. According to authorities, he traveled to Libya and gave advice to Islamic State followers on how to avoid law enforcement monitoring.
