What drives someone toward extremist violence? CIA agent talks radicalization, warning signs
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Federal authorities say they stopped an 18-year-old Richfield man from carrying out an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at Mall of America.
Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, allegedly discussed his plans for months and pledged his allegiance to ISIS. Authorities arrested him earlier this week after he purchased weapons allegedly to carry out the plot.
The case has raised questions about how young people become radicalized — especially in the the social media age.
Criminal defense attorney and former CIA agent Jack Rice joined MPR News host Clay Masters to discuss how it happens and what families and communities can do to interrupt that radicalization.
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“What the internet has done is, it has allowed those who are trying to radicalize, to reach inside of somebody's home, to reach into somebody very particular and very specific,” he said.
Rice says rhetoric from politicians can also become a factor in radicalization.
“If you you attack and you target an entire community rather than somebody who is the ‘terrorist,’ [or] the ‘criminal,’ the problem is you're driving the community towards criminalization, towards terrorism,” Rice said.
“The important part is to realize that you focus in on the act, not on the race of the actor,” he added. “Because then what you're saying is we need to stop terrorism, we need to stop criminal behavior. And when you do it that way, the difference is that you can get others in the community to help you because nobody wants terrorism, nobody wants criminal behavior.”
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
