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Maricopa County: Ismail Hamed, teen charged with terrorism, spread Islamic State propaganda

KNXV Ismail Hamed Booking Photo MCSO.jpg
Posted at 9:08 PM, May 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-08 01:21:52-04

FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ — Newly-released documents shed more light into the investigation of a Valley teen charged with terrorism.

On January 7th, MCSO says dispatchers were contacted by Ismail Hamed, 18, who said he wanted to talk to a deputy. When an MCSO sergeant contacted Hamed outside the Fountain Hills substation, he allegedly began throwing rocks at the sergeant and then pulled out a knife and advanced toward him, according to MCSO.

Hamed was later charged with two counts of terrorism and aggravated assault.

Tuesday, the sheriff's office released more of its investigative report which details the shooting and the evidence gathered to support the charges against Hamed, though much of the evidence remains redacted.

RELATED: 911 calls, body camera video released in MCSO shooting of Ismail Hamed

As part of a search warrant affidavit, an investigator wrote the following:

"In the offense allegedly perpetrated by Ismail Hamed in Fountain Hills, AZ on January 7, 2019, Ismail called a 911 dispatcher and swore his allegiance to the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria. This was followed shortly by an alleged aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Thus, your affiant believes that Ismail, like Omar Mateen and other terrorists, did an obligatory swearing of allegiance to the Islamic state before carrying out an attack. The investigation of Ismail to date has also uncovered his use of electronic communication to spread Islamic State propaganda to friends. Your affiant is aware on at least two occasions, Ismail transmitted to a known person expressions of admiration for Omar Mateen, and forwarded a video from Anwar al-Awlaki, an English speaking cleric (deceased) who is widely accepted by followers of the Islamic stated as an authority to justify the use of violence against non-believers."

The report also shows investigators talked to Hamed's previous co-workers, who detailed some odd behavior. Hamed at one point worked at Target in Fountain Hills, where another employee told investigators Hamed used the employee radio to relay inappropriate messages, according to the report. Hamed allegedly said over the radio "We are under attack," and "We are under heavy fire." Another employee told investigators when Hamed was at a cashier stand, he stood on the grocery belt and yelled "bomb."

ABC15 has reached out to Hamed's attorney for comment, but had not received a response as of Tuesday night.

The case is still working its way through court.