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Mass. man turned over to FBI as terror suspect by 'close acquaintance'

ADAMS, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – The FBI has arrested a Massachusetts ISIS supporter after he allegedly planned an attack on a university in another state.
According to court paperwork, the FBI began investigating 23-year-old Alexander Ciccolo in the fall of 2014 after he reportedly expressed desire to go overseas to fight for the Islamic State.
A “close acquaintance” of Ciccolo’s told the FBI that the defendant had a long history of mental illness and in the last 18 months had shown strong interest in Islam.
“The acquaintance also said that the defendant had recently stated that he believed that the ‘faith is under attack’ and that he is ‘not afraid to die for the cause,’” the court paperwork said.

>> READ: Government's memo to detain Ciccolo

The FBI also said the acquaintance told the Ciccolo had send texts indicating his belief that America is “Satan” and that Americans are disgusting.
Ciccolo had also allegedly been posting on Facebook under the alias of Ali Al Amriki, a person who was interested in martyrdom in the name of Islam living in the United States.
One of the posts on that page was dated Oct. 18, 2104 and showed a picture of a person wearing a head covering in a wooded area and holding a black machete. The post said “Another day in the forest strengthening myself.”

>> READ: Affidavit filed against Alexander Ciccolo

According to the Boston Police Department, Ciccolo has been in and out of hospitals for mental illness for several years. When he was 18 years old his father, a Boston Police Department Captain,  kicked him out of the house. BPD says Ciccolo's father noticed suspicious activity and turned him over to police, although it is not clear if the father is the "close acquaintance" cited in court paperwork.

Cox Media Group

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