A teenager from Chicago had been charged on Monday by federal prosecutors on the ground of attempting to flee to Syria in order to take part in the Islamic State group.

Mohammed Hamzah Khan, a resident of a suburban town in Chicago, had been taken in custody by the members of FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force on Saturday. The 19-year-old, who is recognized as a citizen of the United States, had been reportedly apprehended at the O'Hare International Airport.

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Prosecutors allege that the arrest thwarted the 19-year-old's intention of flying to Istanbul. The teenager had been suspected to reach his purported destination by passing through Vienna. Custom officers reportedly apprehended Khan while he was undergoing the security procedure at O'Hare's international station.

Upon his apprehension, FBI agents immediately conducted an interview with the 19-year-old in the airport. Simultaneously, other agents had been sent to go through Khan's residence on the strength on a search warrant they executed earlier. The search revealed documents that indicated the teenager's desire to be part of the Islamic State group.  

In accordance with the information gathered from the criminal complaint filed against Khan, the officers found a notebook that had an illustration of what seemed as an armored fighter. In the page, the drawing of an Islamic State group flag had also been seen, as well as the caption "Come to Jihad" penned in Arabic.

A letter Khan wrote to his parents was also found. In the three-page handwritten letter, the 19-year-old told his parents that he intended to go to Syria and establish allegiance with the Islamic State group. Khan also claimed to be distraught over the fact that the taxes he paid for in the U.S. will only be used to kill his "Muslim brothers and sisters".

Khan had been charged with lending material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He had been ordered by a federal judge to remain in custody of the arresting officers until Thursday, which would mark his detention hearing.  

TagsChicago, Islamic State group, jihad, jihadist, Vienna, O'Hare International Airport, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force