FBI captures alleged pro-Hamas Oct. 7 attacker found living in Louisiana

Fox News alert the FBI arresting an alleged October 7th attacker living in Louisiana. Federal prosecutors say the 33-year-old man took part in the Hamas attack on Israel, then traveled to the U.S. on a fraudulent visa. Senior correspondent Jonathan Sera has more on

what we're learning. Jonathan. Yes, Andra, he was living here in the U.S. legally. At least on paper, investigators say he lied on his visa application by failing to disclose his alleged connections to paramilitary groups. He was living in Lafayette, Louisiana. His name is Mahmoud Al Matadi, and according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, evidence shows that on the morning of October 7 2023, Al Matadi learned about

the Hamas invasion, armed himself, gathered others, and crossed into Israel with the intention of assisting with Hamas's terrorist attack. That coordinated assault involved rape, torture, kidnapping, and the deaths of 1,200 people. Investigators say al-Matadi's phone used a cell tower

located near Kibbutz Kafar Aza, the location of one of the worst massacres in that attack on Israel. The court filing also includes social media photos that investigators say shows al-Matadi wearing the red headband of the National Resistance Brigades, or NRB, a Gaza-based paramilitary group. It also includes a transcript of a phone call in which al-Muhtadi allegedly tells another

man, quote, if things go the way they should, Syria will take part, Lebanon will take part, and it's going to be a third world war. Sandra al-Muhtadi is currently being held in Louisiana at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center as this case unfolds.

Back to you.

OK, thank you very much, Jonathan. John.

All right, let's bring in Drake Gowdy, host of Sunday Night in America, for more on this. Here's what the FBI said in part in a statement, quote, Evidence shows that on the morning of October 7th, 2023, al-Muqtadi learned about the Hamas invasion, armed himself, gathered others and crossed into Israel with the intention of assisting in Hamas' terrorist attack. Evidence further shows that Al Muqtadi provided false information in his U.S. visa application relating to his involvement with a paramilitary organization, connection to Hamas, participation

in a terrorist attack and military training. Now in custody, but you got to wonder how, how'd this guy get into the country?

Oh, I don't wonder. He probably came through a pretty porous, uh, Southern border or else he lied on a visa. Well, that's the least of his problems. John, his real problem is the close working relationship between Mossad and the CIA with John Radcliffe and Shin Bet, which is the Israeli law enforcement and our FBI in Kash Batella.

And I'll just tell anyone involved in the Hamas attack on October the 7th, you need to sleep with one eye open at least as long as Ratcliffe is at the CIA and Batella is at the FBI. It's been over two years. They just found him. They're not going to stop looking. Just like we didn't stop looking after 9-11, Israel and the US are not going to stop looking

for you. And if you had anything to do with that barbaric attack, they're going to find you. Am I surprised it's Lafayette, Louisiana? I am. Home of Jeff Landry, speaking of former prosecutors. But Cash and John, both former U.S. attorneys, they're not gonna stop until everyone that's involved

is brought to justice.

Or as some say locally, laugh yet, Louisiana. Governor Jeff Landry, by the way, Trey just posted this on his Twitter account. Justice will be served. Perhaps this is Louisiana lockup's newest resident. Perhaps that's the case.

Look at your reaction. You know, Louisiana is beautiful. I would probably rather be there than sent back to Israel. But that's always an option. Send them back to the country that they victimized. Um, look, like I said, his visa issues are the least of his problems. He's either gonna, there are some not so nice prisons in Louisiana. Uh, his future is looking very bleak, but that's also true for anyone that are, that has not also been apprehended. Radcliffe and Patel are going to work with their Israeli counterparts as long as they're in office period, full stop. If you're involved in the

October 7th attack, sleep with one eye open. Yeah.

In announcing these arrests, here's what the attorney general, Pam Bondi said, quote, after hiding out in the United States, this monster has been found and charged with participating in the atrocities of October 7th, the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. While nothing can fully heal the scars left by Hamas's brutal attack, this department's joint task force, October 7th, is dedicated to finding and prosecuting

those responsible for that horrific day, including the murder of dozens of American citizens. And this task force is going to continue. Maybe this is just the first person to be unearthed.

I hope so. And, Pam, excuse me, A.G. Bani raises a really good point. It was not just Israelis that were victimized on that day. There were people from all over the world, including the United States, that were, I mean, children beheaded, women raped.

I mean, it was equivalent to our 9-11. We spent 20 years finding out who was responsible for that. We spent 20 years finding out who was responsible for that. Israel's gonna spend at least that long.