Carlos Almonte, once a protester carrying an anti-Semitic banner, later became a convicted Islamist extremist
The two, who were arrested together with their friend Mohamed Hamoud Alessa in 2010, were planning to join Al-Shabaab.
Almonte, born in the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 20 years in prison
In 2008, Carlos Almonte attracted attention by attending a protest at the Israeli Embassy in New York, carrying a banner with a disturbing message: “Death to All Juices” advocating the extermination of the Jews.
This is Carlos Almonte.
It’s 2008, he’s protesting at the Israeli Embassy in NYC.
Two years later, he and a friend plan a trip to Somalia.
Before they leave, they are arrested.
Why? Turns out they weren’t going to vacation in Mogadishu.
No, they were going to join Al-Shabab. pic.twitter.com/CzvGVg87Tf
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 12, 2023
This action marked the beginning of a tumultuous journey that would later reveal him as a convicted Islamist extremist.
Who is Carlos Almonte?
Carlos Almonte, initially known for protesting at the Israeli Embassy in New York with a banner expressing anti-Semitic sentiments, was later revealed as a convicted extremist who had converted to Islam. Almonte planned to join the Somalia-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab along with his friend Mohamed Hamoud Alessa.
The two were arrested at JFK International Airport in June 2010 while trying to board separate international flights. Almonte, also known as Omar, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in April 2013 for conspiring to commit acts of international terrorism on behalf of Al-Shabaab.
Born in the Dominican Republic in 1983 or 1984, Almonte became a US citizen and was imprisoned for his involvement in extremist activities. The FBI investigation, codenamed “Operation Arab Knight,” found that they had become radicalized, acquired extremist content, and were preparing for a journey to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab.
The case highlighted the challenges of counterterrorism efforts in monitoring and preventing individuals from engaging in terrorist activities.
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