Two California men charged with supporting IS jihadists

Los Angeles

 Two California men were charged yesterday with allegedly providing support to the Islamic State group, with one accused of trying to travel to the Middle East to join the jihadists.

 Anaheim residents Muhanad Badawi and Nader Elhuzayel, both 24, were charged after investigators tracked their communications on social media and found messages claiming their support for IS.

 On May 3, Elhuzayel tweeted his support for a failed attack by two gunmen on an exhibit of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in Texas. The attackers were shot to death by police.

 Elhuzayel praised one of the gunmen, Elton Simpson, as a "martyr."

 "Badawi and Elhuzayel used social media to discuss IS and terrorist attacks, expressed a desire to die as martyrs and made arrangements for Elhuzayel to leave the United States to join IS," the Justice Department said.

 Court documents said that on May 7, Badawi allowed Elhuzayel to use his credit card to purchase a one-way airline ticket to Tel Aviv via Istanbul.

 Elhuzayel was scheduled to depart on May 21 and was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport.

 Turkey is a popular entry point for people traveling to Syria to join the self-proclaimed Islamic State.

 Badawi also suggested he planned to go to the region to join the fight, according to the Justice Department.

 The affidavit also tracked messages the pair posted on Twitter in support of militants.

 Simpson wrote on Twitter that he and his "bro" had pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

 In response, Elhuzayel tweeted in support of the attempted attack.

 Investigators also tracked conversations between Badawi and Elhuzayel, who "discussed how it would be a blessing to fight for the cause of Allah, and to die in the battlefield," the Justice Department said.

 Badawi was also arrested Thursday, and both were formally charged Friday by the US District Court of Central California, where they are due to make an initial court appearance later in the day.

 They face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.