Louisiana Resident Accused of Assisting Militant Group in October 7 Assault on Israeli Territory, US Prosecutors Allege
US federal attorneys have charged a LA resident of taking part in the October 7 attack by the militant faction on Israel, as per newly unsealed legal papers.
The defendant, thirty-three, reportedly armed himself and joined a militia unit that fought together with Hamas during the 2023's incursion that claimed the lives of over a thousand Israelis, sparking 24 months of conflict that resulted in the deaths of many additional individuals.
A year after the attack, he supposedly travelled to the United States on a fraudulent entry permit and became a permanent resident.
Mr al-Muhtadi was charged with providing, trying to provide or plotting to deliver material support to a designated terror group and the deception and misuse of a travel document or other documents.
Alleged Involvement with Militant Faction
Mr al-Muhtadi was allegedly an member of the National Resistance Brigades, the armed branch of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as stated in the legal filing brought by the FBI.
He is accused of organizing a "group of militants" to enter into Israel after hearing about the attack and requested one individual to "bring the rifles", court papers show.
The suspect sent messages asking other persons to bring a protective gear for another man and rounds, authorities claim.
Hours after the October 7 attack started, his mobile device connected to a signal tower close to the kibbutz, the location of a massacre, the documents stated.
Judicial Process and Defense
The legal document said that the accused denied ever having been involved in acts of terror on his US immigration form.
After coming to the US, he resided in a few of places before settling in the Louisiana city, where he was employed in a local restaurant.
He was taken into custody on Thursday, the Justice Department said.
In a court appearance in Louisiana on the following day, he was questioned if he understood the allegations against him, an interpreter rendered his response as "affirmative, but there are a lot of points mentioned in this document that are so false, I'm innocent", as reported by reports.
The documents do not charge the defendant of specific crimes or homicides. US attorneys have in the past charged senior individuals of the group with the fatalities of American nationals on 7 October.
