(AP) A radical Islamic cleric has been extradited to New York City on charges he recruited followers and fighters for the Islamic State through fiery online lectures and militant propaganda, prosecutors said Friday.
Abdullah al-Faisal, who had been behind bars in Jamaica, pleaded not guilty in Manhattan state court to charges including conspiracy and supporting terrorism.
The Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., said al-Faisal’s arrest dealt a “major blow to ISIS’ overall recruitment capabilities.”
“In addition to shutting down Faisal’s dangerous rhetoric and his recruitment of new terrorists, the effects of his arrest have been felt across the counterterrorism community worldwide,” Vance said in a statement.
