U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- Sean Andrew Duncan, 21, of Sterling Virginia is a Muslim convert who has been arrested and accused by the FBI of trying to join ISIS.
The FBI first learned of Duncan in February 2016 when a relative of his informed the FBI that Duncan has converted to Islam and may have been radicalized while in Pittsburgh. His family stated that he voiced his approval of ISIS beheading and planned to travel to Turkey.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Duncan boarded a flight from Dulles International Airport on February 26th, 2016 to Turkey. Duncan and his wife planned to travel from Turkey to Bangladesh on March 4th, 2016 and returned to the US on March 20th.
The couple was detained in Turkey for unknown reasons and deported back to the US where the FBI interviewed them upon landing on March 1st, 2016. After the interview, Duncan started scrubbing his social media accounts. On March 2nd he deleted his Facebook and changed his phone number.
In December of 2016, the FBI did find a Twitter account associated with Duncan’s phone number. The account was named @DawlahtulIslaam. Dawlahtul Islaam translates to the Islamic State. A cursory search of this twitter account showed no tweets, but the account was created in November of 2015.
It seems that Duncan’s radicalization goes back at least to January of 2015 when he sent a friends request to an unnamed co-conspirator who is currently in the custody of an unnamed country for planning to travel to Syria to join ISIS. According to her, Duncan expressed interest in joining ISIS and carrying out attacks in the U.S. The two started to communicate through encrypted mobile phone apps.
Duncan told the unnamed women that he agreed with, ISIS spokesperson, Abu Mohammed Al-Adnani about Muslims attacking their homeland. Duncan also instructed the unnamed women on how to build a bomb after she complained about how non-muslim women dressed at her work.
In February 2015 Duncan asked the women if she would go to Syria with him and become his second wife. Duncan also told the women after his trip to Turkey that he thought the FBI was monitoring him. He stated that his wife, Zakiya, could keep secrets. As of this writing, Duncan’s wife has not been charged by the FBI with any crimes. Duncan went as far as stating that his wife knew what to say if the FBI questioned her.
When the FBI took over the account of the unnamed women, they asked Duncan about vetting questions that ISIS might ask. Duncan stated that he didn’t have to answer vetting questions because an unnamed person referred and vouched for him to ISIS. This method lines up with how ISIS recruits members.
In October of 2017, an ISIS recruiter was arrested by her government for inciting a rebellion. Duncan’s social media accounts, phone number, and his name were all found in the handwritten notes of the recruiter. Duncan also seemed to be in contact with the recruiter through the messaging app Telegraph.
It seems like Duncan was searching for weapons and body armor using the internet. He also was also researching on how to reinforce a door and set up a barricade. One interesting fact is that Duncan was buying machete-like knives and researching how to carry out a knife attack. Knife attacks are a favorite tactic of ISIS that has been used across Europe and the Middle East.
The FBI was able to gain access to Duncan’s phone and laptop through the Alleghany County Police Department. The ACPD obtained access to the devices during an investigation of the suspicious death of Duncan’s Infant son. At the end of the investigation, the cause of death of the child was marked as inconclusive.
Some of the items that Duncan searched for on his phone and laptop were black flags, body armor, AR15s, and TAC 19 pistols. Duncan also seemed to be a fan of pro-ISIS videos that were on Youtube. Duncan also was a reader of Inspire the ISIS magazine, and Amaq News (pro-ISIS news source)
When the FBI raided Duncan’s home in Sterling, VA Duncan ran out the back door barefoot with a flash drive and a memory card. When the FBI agents caught up to Duncan, he destroyed the flash drive and memory card.
Duncan is being held by the FBI on charges of destroying evidence.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on the history of the patriot movement and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss or at www.crumpy.com.
The author makes several references to “women”. Was there more than one woman, or is the author grammatically challenged?
So they arrested this guy. He deserves it. Keep up on this arrest. The FBI will do nothing except run around in little “soldier suits” to look like bad-asses. Same little suits worn at Waco and Ruby Ridge. BTW, still not explained where the evidence went. Conveniently lost! Most of the comments here are favorable to them. That’s OK by me, but my opinion is that the FBI is a totally corrupt and has been for a decade. The guy arrested will lawyer-up and be cut loose for PC purposes. However, the Clintons still walk free, make speeches for “big… Read more »
Being from Western Pennsylvania, lt concerns me that his radicalization may have taken place in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has deemed itself a “sanctuary” city by the clueless liberal democratic leadership and majority. What bothers me is that they do not accept pr even understand the fact that they are creating pockets in our country where radicalization of individuals is possible. They are trying to be pc (and anti-Trump) when in fact they are aiding the enemies of our country and the rest of the free world. This is very disconcerting.
After his time is served, chip him up without his knowledge, take his citizenship away, send him to Syria to fight then cruise missile his ass when it suits a tactical moment. Bacon for everyone
It appears that the FBI boots on the ground are doing a better job than their management at the top.
A _potentially_ bad person obviously but, what was his crime exactly? He was associated with an evil organization and was searching the internet about weapons.
An NRA member or Joe Public looking for a bump-stock, a new mag or just a hunting knife should maybe be pretty concerned about this. Especially if we have a Democrat majority in the near future.