Congressman Warns Of Americans Joining Somali Terror Group

A Republican Congressman says that more than 40 Americans have been recruited by a terrorist group in Somalia that is connected with al-Qaida.

Representative Peter King (R-N.Y.), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said that he would speak about his findings at his committee’s upcoming meeting on Muslim radicalization in America, according to The Associated Press.

While government officials have not confirmed that the number of Americans who have joined al-Shabab is as high as King claims, the lawmaker said the danger presented by the organization is very real.

“We must face the reality that al-Shabab is a growing threat to our homeland,” he said.

The AP obtained King’s prepared remarks for the committee meeting and in them, King says that al-Shabab is “engaged in an ongoing, successful effort to recruit and radicalize dozens of Muslim-American jihadis, who pose a direct threat to the U.S.”

Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the senior Democrat on the committee, said that the committee should broaden its focus beyond one terrorist group, but still address the radicalization of some Somali-Americans, according to Bloomberg.