RI Man Linked to Terror Probe in FBI Custody

Photo: Nicholas Rovinski

NEW: Rovinski Charged with Conspiracy to Aid ISIS

Nicholas Rovinski, the 24-year-old Warwick man that has been under constant surveillance for days since it was learned he was connected to now-dead suspected terrorist Usaama Rahim, is in federal custody.

Rovinski was led away from his Aspinet Drive house Thursday afternoon by authorities. A spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that Rovinski was taken into custody and will be facing unspecified charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston is handling the case.

Authorities descended on the Governor Francis Farms neighborhood where Rovinski lives with family members last week after their investigation into Rahim’s activities led them to Rovinski.

Rahim, who was killed by Boston police on June 2, Rovinski and a third man, David Wright, reportedly met on a local beach and had a conversation “in inclement weather” to discuss their plans, which apparently included a plan to behead blogger Pamela Geller.

Police searched the home and removed boxes of evidence in the days leading up to Rovinski’s arrest on Thursday.

The police presence has been unnerving for residents of the working class neighborhood here in Rhode Island’s second-largest city. They said Rovinski always seemed like a nice young man but his appearance had changed dramatically after he converted to Islam about two years ago. For more than a week, residents have had to show ID to get in and out and police have kept steady watch on Rovinski.

Rahim reportedly had planned to behead police officers in the Boston area. In a court complaint filed against Wright, Rahim had bought knives on Amazon to carry out the beheadings. The FBI has said that the attack appeared to be imminent.

Authorities have not released many details about their ongoing investigation into Rovinski, though more information may be revealed once charges are filed in court Friday or early next week.

Wright, of Everett, Mass., was arrested last week for for his role in the alleged conspiracy.

It is clear, based on publicly accessible information on social media sites, Rovinski had an interest in specific things that could be considered a cause for concern to investigators.

On YouTube, his account was subscribed to numerous survivalist channels and showed activity that included watching politically-charged videos and guides on how to build sniper rifles or fashion a machete with no power tools. One of the channels he subscribed to one month ago belongs to Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, who is considered a radicalized “hate cleric”

He also commented on numerous now-removed YouTube posts from so-called radical extremist clerics.

CNN reported that Rovinski, in March, shared his extremist views with the network. In messages exchanged with a producer, he reportedly said he had talked with an ISIS operative who told him he should go to Iraq or Syria and join their cause.

He was also vocal on Twitter.

“Who wishes to see flag of tawheed upon white house,” he said in March.

He also tweeted messages at people connected to ISIS, including Mujahid Miski, also known as Mohamed Abdullahi Hasan, who CNN reported is from Minnesota but might be fighting with Al Shabaab in Somalia.

Rovinski reportedly went to a mosque near his house in Warwick.

See also:

Rovinski Charged with Conspiracy to Aid ISIS

Alleged Co-Conspirator With Roslindale Terror Suspect Arrested

Family Views Video of Fatal Shooting of Usaamah Rahim

Target of Roslindale Man’s Alleged Terrorist Plot Revealed

Everett Man Conspired to Support Attacking ‘Boys In Blue,’ According to FBI

Man Killed in Roslindale Confrontation Target of Terrorism Probe, Police Say