The FBI began investigating Abuayyash in August after agents saw video of him firing AR-style rifles and other weapons on social media.
Sohaib Abuayyash in social media posts
He applied for asylum in the US after his visa expired in 2019, according to the redacted probable cause affidavit. He’s authorized to work in the US until August 2025, but is not allowed to ‘possess or use firearms or ammunition’.
The affidavit states that Abuayyash "has been in direct contact with others who share a radical mindset, has been conducting physical training, and has trained with weapons to possibly commit an attack."
Judge Christina A. Bryan wrote in a detention order that Abuayyash ‘has viewed specific and detailed content posted by radical organizations on the internet including lessons on how to construct bombs or explosive devices; and that Defendant has made statements to others that support the killing of individuals of particular religious faiths.
"In his communications with another individual about martyrdom, the Defendant referenced an event in Houston for members of a particular religious group."
Abuayyash was "plotting to attack a Jewish gathering," a law enforcement source told CNN.
The FBI moved quickly to charge Abuayyash with illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person because he was training with pistols and assault weapons.
Now that he is in custody, agents will continue investigating him and plan to bring further charges.
FBI Director Christopher Wray referenced Abuayyash in a statement to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Tuesday.
"He has viewed specific and detailed content posted by radical organizations on the internet, including lessons on how to construct bombs or explosive devices.
"And that defendant has made statements to others that support the killing of individuals of particular religious faiths."
Wray said the war in Gaza "has raised the threat of an attack against Americans in the United States to a whole other level."
"We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration, the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate years ago.
"Here in the United States, our most immediate concern is that violent extremists - individuals or small groups - will draw inspiration from the events in the Middle East to carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives."
