Canadian who joined ISIS added to U.S. most-wanted terrorist list

Once thought killed while fighting alongside ISIS forces in Iraq, a Calgarian is now one of the United States’ most-wanted terrorists.
In a decision by the U.S. State Department, Farah Mohamed Shirdon, 24, of Calgary, has been dubbed a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”

Filed last month by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the decision was published on April 19 and said the former Calgary man is a risk to national security.

“I hereby determine that the individual known as Farah Mohamed Shirdon … has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States,” the decision read.

RCMP in Alberta laid terrorism charges against 24-year-old Farah Mohamed Shirdon in 2015, including participation in the activity of a terrorist group and instructing others to carry out terrorist activity.

The decision also added Canadian Tarek Sakr to the most-wanted list, believed to be part of a group of Quebecers who left for Syria between 2011 and 2012.

Before joining ISIS fighters in Syria, Shirdon — whose uncle was once prime minister of Somalia — lived in Calgary and worked at the Scotiabank Chinook movie theatre and attended SAIT as recently as 2012. Born in Toronto before moving to Calgary with his family, police said Shirdon left Calgary in 2014 to join ISIS in Syria.

Shirdon gained international attention in 2014 when he was featured in a video burning his Canadian passport and threatening western countries, including his home country of Canada.

Multiple reports in August of 2014 indicated Shirdon had been killed while fighting in Syria but he resurfaced on social media a month later.

“We are coming and will destroy you … this is a message for Canada and for all America,” Shirdon was recorded saying on camera.

“I left comfort for one reason alone, for Allah.”

Source: Canoe