Ex-Mayo Clinic Researcher Tried To Help ISIS: Feds

ROCHESTER, MN — A Rochester man who previously worked as a Mayo Clinic researcher pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to attempting to provide support for terrorists.

In 2020, Muhammad Masood, 30, pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) and tried to help them, investigators said. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

Masood worked at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester under an H-1B Visa, and he is a licensed doctor in Pakistan, according to authorities. He was not an employee at the Mayo Clinic when he was arrested, the hospital system said.

Between January 2020 and March 2020, Masood made several statements to people about his desire to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS, investigators said.

Masood also talked about wanting to take part in "lone wolf" terrorist attacks in the United States, according to authorities.

On Feb. 21, 2020, Masood purchased a plane ticket from Chicago Amman, Jordan, and from there planned to travel to Syria, investigators said. However, on March 16 of that year, Masood’s travel plans changed because Jordan closed its borders to incoming travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to authorities.

Masood then planned to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet up with someone he thought would help him travel in a cargo ship and ultimately arrive in ISIS territory, according to investigators.

On March 19, 2020, Masood traveled from Rochester to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to board a flight bound for Los Angeles, authorities said.

At MSP, however, Masood checked in for his flight and was then arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.