Trevor William Forrest (a/k/a Shaikh Abdullah Faisal) was indicted for using his public profile and personal network to recruit and provide support to those seeking to commit acts of violence and terrorism against others. The defendant is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with soliciting or providing support for an act of terrorism in the first degree as a crime of terrorism and other charges. He pleaded not guilty to terrorism support charges in a Manhattan court on August 14, 2020 after his extradition from Jamaica.
2020-08-14 | Designated Global Terrorist Shaikh Faisal Arraigned on Conspiracy and Terrorism Charges Following Extradition from Jamaica
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr., and New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea today announced the extradition from Jamaica and arraignment of TREVOR WILLIAM FORREST, a/k/a "SHAIKH ABDULLAH FAISAL," a/k/a "SHAIKH FAISAL," 56, a citizen of Jamaica, for using his public profile and personal network to recruit and provide support to those seeking to commit acts of violence and terrorism against others. FAISAL, who in 2017 was named a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, was previously convicted in the United Kingdom of crimes related to inciting murder and using racially charged, hateful rhetoric in furtherance of terrorist ideologies. FAISAL has publicly supported the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State, a/k/a "ISIS" or "ISIL," and called for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate through violent acts encouraged by the defendant's online lectures and militant propaganda. FAISAL is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Soliciting or Providing Support for an Act of Terrorism in the First Degree as a Crime of Terrorism, among other charges.