A man who used to live in the Pennsylvania region is confronting terrorism-related charges after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said they discovered proof of his actions to join a terrorist organization last year.
In charges filed by a federal grand jury, they were authenticated evidence that indicated 24-year-old Jack Danaher Molloy, previously of the South Hills suburbs in Allegheny County, Pa., had journeyed to Lebanon and Syria to back Hezbollah, making false statements to federal agents regarding his intent for this visit. As they performed investigations, federal agents expressed they discovered several concerning indications of intense antisemitic beliefs from Molloy that were voiced online.
“The FBI’s No. 1 priority is to protect the American people from both domestic and international terrorist threats,” stated FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “To achieve that end, the FBI will leverage the entirety of our resources, partnerships, and all applicable laws to bring to justice anyone who seeks to support or aid any foreign terror organizations, especially groups as deadly as Hezbollah,” FBI states defendant journeyed twice to attempt to join the group.
Federal prosecutors recently released a statement stating Molloy allegedly attempted to deliver material help and resources, including personnel and assistance, to the foreign terrorist association Hezbollah in mid-2024. The first happening happened in August when Molloy, a dual national of the United States and Ireland with prior experience in the U.S. Army, journeyed to Lebanon to become part of the group.
At the time of this visit in August, the terrorist group allegedly pointed to Molloy that “the time was not right” for him to participate in the group’s operations, and additional measures were required to join. In October, Molloy made his way to Syria and tried to sustain their forces once again, then returned to his home in Upper St. Clair Township, where he persisted in his actions to join the group online.
During his attempts to join Hezbollah in the United States and abroad, federal agents stated Molloy voiced his hostility towards the Jewish faith and encouraged violence against Jewish people. Investigators found several disturbing videos and images on his devices, in addition to his Twitter handle, which included antisemitic slurs.
When coming back to the Pittsburgh International Airport on Oct. 20, 2024, prosecutors stated Molloy made false statements to FBI agents when he informed them that “he had no current or plans to become involved with Hezbollah, and that he had no business in, nor was he meeting with anyone, in Syria.” This information was determined to be faulty by investigators, as he did have goals to join the terrorist group when traveling to the region and did appear to schedule a session while he was in Syria.
