Newlywed couple arrested after allegedly attempting to join ISIS

An undercover law enforcement officer thwarted the couple's plan to join the terror group while they tried to leave the country.

By Nicholas Sherman

Published: April 5, 2021 10:14am

Updated: April 5, 2021 11:36am

A newlywed couple was arrested at a port near New York City after allegedly attempting to board a ship to go fight for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, better known as ISIS.

James Bradley, 20, and Arwa Muthana, 29, were arrested Thursday at Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in New Jersey after an undercover law enforcement officer said he would get them a ship to take them to Yemen.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss says the couple's plans to "wage attacks against the United States have been thwarted," according to The Epoch Times.

Undercover officers who spent time with the couple said Bradley had admitted to expressing support and wishes to joining ISIS. He even allegedly told one of the undercover officers about his desire to potentially attack the United States Military Academy at West Point, in New York.

The couple had said they planned to pledge their allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi and planned to fight in Yemen and fight in Afghanistan with the Taliban.

The two were ordered to be jailed without bail, according to prosecutors.