A New Jersey man, Karrem Nasr, has been arrested and charged for attempting to aid the militant Islamist group al Shabaab, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Nasr, a U.S. citizen who had moved from New Jersey to Egypt in July, was taken into custody in Nairobi on December 14 and brought back to the United States on December 28. The arrest comes as incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia have been on the rise following the Israel-Gaza war, leading to increased terror threat levels in the United States.

According to prosecutors, Nasr was motivated by Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 to wage violence. He has been charged with "attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization," which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The United States designates al Shabaab as a "foreign terrorist organization."

Prosecutors allege that Nasr had been thinking about engaging in jihad for a long time, and the Hamas attack in Israel further motivated him to become a jihadi. Nasr traveled from Egypt to Kenya with the intention of joining and training with al Shabaab. He had planned to meet members of the organization in Kenya and then travel to Somalia to join them.

Authorities became aware of Nasr's intentions through communications he had with an FBI confidential source and his online postings. In these communications, Nasr expressed his desire and plans to join al Shabaab and harm Americans around the world. He referred to America as the "head of the snake" and warned of jihad coming soon to a U.S. location near them.

The arrest of Nasr highlights the ongoing threat of terrorism and the need for increased vigilance. The U.S. Justice Department has been monitoring rising threats against Jews and Muslims in the United States due to soaring levels of antisemitism and Islamophobia linked to the war in the Middle East. FBI Director Christopher Wray has emphasized the elevated threat level and the need for heightened security measures.

If found guilty, Nasr could face up to 20 years in prison. It is not clear at this time whether he has legal representation. Nasr is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court to face the charges. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of continued efforts to combat terrorism and protect national security.