‘I thought he was just a great kid, and had real potential’

In the months before a 17-year-old at Prince William Countys Osbourn Park High School was taken out of his home in handcuffs, accused of helping terrorists, he seemed to be doing the same thing as all his peers: lining up references for his college applications.

The boy did not yet know where he wanted to go or what he wanted to study economics, computer science and cryptography were just three ideas he floated to a former teacher. But with above-average intelligence and a strong desire to learn new things, he seemed destined for success, those who knew him said.

I thought he was just a great kid and had real potential, said Bruce Averill, a former teacher at the Governors School @ Innovation Park in Manassas who had the youth in a college-level chemistry course.

Federal authorities saw the teen differently. By their account, the youngster successfully helped a man not much older than himself travel to Syria and join the Islamic State. The teen, officials said, is believed to have used online contacts to help make arrangements for the mans trip. He is also believed to have involved another 17-year-old Osbourn Park student in his plot.

The case is still in its infancy the teen was taken into custody Feb. 27 and charged as a juvenile but is already drawing attention from law enforcement officials and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. On Thursday, Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) sent a letter to FBI Director James B. Comey asking for a briefing. She said in an interview that she was concerned about a spate of cases in which the Islamic State seemed to have successfully wooed youths in the United States.

We want to intercede and get engaged on this before it gets worse, Comstock said.

James R. Clapper Jr., director of national intelligence, said recently that about 180 Americans have gone or tried to go to Syria since the conflict there began, although not all had nefarious intentions. Late last month, after three Brooklyn men were arrested on charges that they planned to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State, Michael Steinbach, the FBIs assistant director of the counterterrorism division, briefed a congressional subcommittee about the problem.

FBI spokesman Chris Allen said the bureau and the Department of Homeland Security also recently issued a bulletin to local law enforcement officials about the continuing trend of Western youth being inspired by [the Islamic State] to travel to Syria to participate in conflict.

Allen said authorities are concerned about recruitment efforts made by the Islamic State particularly through social media engagement, and we urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

The case in Virginia seems to be yet another example of the phenomenon, although much remains unclear. The teen is charged as a juvenile as prosecutors navigate the process to move the case to adult court. The man he helped travel has not been publicly charged.

Continued here:
‘I thought he was just a great kid, and had real potential’