DEARBORN, Mich. – Shaykh Ahmad Musa Jibril is a Michigan-based cleric known for his YouTube presence.
He reportedly was involved in the radicalization of one of the men who killed seven people and injured dozens more Saturday night near the London Bridge. Musa Jibril, of Dearborn, is renowned among anti-terror sources as a favorite Imam of ISIS fighters.
Recommended Videos
Investigators have identified two of the three attackers as Khuram Shazad Butt and Rachid Redouane. The third attacker was identified Tuesday morning as 22-year-old Youssef Zaghba. According to a report from the BBC's Asian Network, a friend said one of them men "had been radicalized watching videos of the infamous American hate preacher Ahmad Musa Jibril."
From the Telegraph report:
He said: “We spoke about a particular attack that happened and like most radicals he had a justification for anything and everything and that day I realised I needed to contact the authorities.”
He added: “He used to listen to a lot of Musa Jibril. I have heard some of this stuff and its very radical. I am surprised this stuff is still on YouTube and is easily accessible. I phoned the anti-terror hotline. I spoke to the gentleman. I told him about our conversation and why I think he was radicalised.”
At this point in the investigation, there are allegations against Musa Jibril that claim he has been radicalizing people. There have been attempts to pull Musa Jibril's videos off of YouTube, but the site hasn't agreed to do so.
According to the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), a non profit formed to "combat the growing threat from extremist ideologies," Musa Jibril reportedly "has influenced Westerners to fight in the Syrian conflict."
Ahmad Musa Jibril is an Arab-American Islamist preacher who has reportedly influenced Westerners to fight in the Syrian conflict. From his home in Michigan, Jibril produces Internet lectures that advocate a Salafist version of Islam that praises jihad, although he doesn’t specifically call upon his followers to join jihadi groups. A 2014 report by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) found that Jibril “adopts the role of a cheerleader: supporting the principles of armed opposition to Assad." One of the suspected attackers in the June 3, 2017, London Bridge terrorist attack was reportedly radicalized while watching Jibril’s videos online.
Musa Jibril has spent time in a Michigan prison after being convicted with his father in a scheme in which they were buying buildings and getting them overvalued for insurance purposes. He served time on a type of deed claim.
RELATED: London Bridge attack: One suspect was known to police and MI5