East County News Service
June 5, 2026 (San Diego ) – This morning, the FBI arrested three U.S. citizens who allegedly plotted violent attacks on U .S. servicemembers in a conspired with the Islamic State of Iraq and al–Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terror group.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, those arrested are Bereen Dzayee, 25, of Lakeside, California as well as Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, of Leawood, Kansas and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, of Porterville Kansas.
According to the complaint filed in the District of Kansas , the suspects are accused of providing over $2,000 to an individual they understood to be a member of ISIS. As detailed in the complaint, in various messaging exchanges, Ghafoor said he has always wanted to kill a female soldier by beheading, and added, “I wish I could kill 300,000,000 Americans.” Dzayee suggested that targets of drones should include U.S. Special Forces. Shamsaldeen expressed a desire to stab and injure a U.S. servicemember. Ghafoor exclaimed it would be “sick” if his name could be written on the drone used in an attack on Americans.
The group also reportedly plotted a cryptocurrency scheme to buy drones and other items for violent attacks.
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “This administration has put terrorists, cartels, and gangs on notice,” said Acting. “Today’s arrest of three individuals who allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIS makes clear our commitment to taking down terrorist networks — anywhere. Thanks to the vigilance of the FBI, their alleged scheme was dismantled and further acts of violence against U.S. service members were prevented.”
According to the complaint, since February 2025, the men communicated about several plans to support ISIS, including provision of personnel, services, and money. Through Discord chats, voice calls, and other messaging platforms, the coconspirators pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader. The defendants exchanged messages in social media groups promoting violence in furtherance of ISIS.
Ghafoor’s name was written on the projectile of one of the rocket-propelled grenades purportedly to be used in an attack overseas to kill U.S. servicemembers. Shamsaldeen provided financial resources for the purpose of purchasing drones, which, in turn, were to be used to attack and kill U.S. servicemembers deployed overseas.
The complaint further alleges that the defendants and others communicated their desires to travel outside the United States to fight on behalf of ISIS. In some of these communications, they expressed a willingness to die on behalf of ISIS.
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in the San Diego Field Office, Kansas City Field Office,and the Sacramento Field Office investigated the cases, with assistance from FBI Field Offices in Richmond and Newark.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Michelle MacFarlane for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Jay Rezai of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of California and the Southern District of California.