St. Paul Meeting on Missing Somali Men,FEATURE: Minnesota Somalis face post-Sept. 11 fears as young men leave for jihad

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The FBI investigation into young Somali-American men leaving the Twin Cities to fight in their homeland continues, while community leaders look into why it's happening.

There's an open forum Wednesday night at the Rondo Library and something that's sure to be on the agenda is the arrest of a Minnesota man last week. The FBI arrested Abdow Abdow, 26, of Chanhassen, Minn. in Nevada on Friday and charged him Tuesday with one count of making false statements about renting a car and driving to Nevada with four people, including some who left the country.

It's part of a growing investigation by the FBI and growing worry in the large Somali community in the Twin Cities. It's believed at least 20 Minnesota men have left to fight in Somalia's continuing violence . At least four of those 20 men have been killed, including a suicide bomber .

Federal authorities have made arrests in the past couple of months and they appear to be following the money trail, trying to find who is recruiting young men and financing their trips to Somalia , only to die...MORE..http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Missing_Somali_Meeting_Rondo_Library_Saint_Paul_Oct_14_2009

FEATURE: Minnesota Somalis face post-Sept. 11 fears as young men leave for jihad MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota,

Just as the dust settled in the post-Sept. 11 era in the largest Somali community in America's heartland, another tragedy has hit residents in the Minneapolis area after the initial terrorist attacks rocked the world eight years ago. Over the past two years it has gradually come to light that some 20 young Somali-Americans there have left their adopted homes to take up arms in the motherland many never really knew. This has stood out as the largest number of Americans suspected of joining an extremist group, which has direct links to al-Qaida. The young men have answered a call to join al-Shabaab, according to community activists and leaders. The hard-line Islamist group, which is fighting to overthrow the fragile government, is also classified as a terrorist organization. The militants... [read full story] ORhttp://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=459575