Boston graduate runs ISIS social media

Washington: America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation on Friday has launched a massive hunt for one Ahmad Abousamra, the man they believe is the mastermind behind terror group Isis elaborate social media campaign.A wealthy college graduate, Abousamra, 32, holds dual American-Syrian citizenship and reports claim he has had a distinguished academic career in the United States. 

 

Abousamra is believed to be the ‘architect’ behind the terror group’s online campaign, which has so far included several “professional-quality videos and images” on YouTube and other social media. The propaganda videos  have Hollywood-grade special effects and the clips are being held responsible for Islamic State’s spectacular success in influencing young Muslims to join its ranks in both Iraq and Syria. 

 

The terror group has also created several hashtags and even an app, Dawn of Glad Tidings, which throws up propaganda and updates on wars to users. Born in France, in 1981, and brought up in an exclusive Boston suburb, Abousamra is the son of an eminent doctor at Massachusetts general hospital. Abousamra attended private school before transferring to Stoughton High, where he made the honour roll of the school. 

 

Then, at Northeastern University in Boston, Abousamra studied computer science and made The Dean’s List for academic excellence. Officials believe that Abousamra travelled to Iraq in 2004, to fight US forces and was later alleged to have been involved in the media operations of al-Qaeda in Iraq. The US officials claim that Abousamra has been running the Islamic State’s Al-Hayat media arm.  

 

The FBI added that he has a “college degree related to computer technology and was previously employed at a telecommunications company.” The federal investigative body has now announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Abousamra’s arrest.