Alleged ISIS operative claims attack cell in Illinois

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team is investigating a possible new terrorist threat to Illinois. A web page, purported to have been posted by an ISIS member, lists Illinois as one of several states where terror cells are poised to strike.

A self-described American jihadist claims to have ISIS cells operational in Illinois and 14 other states, where terrorists are said to be preparing to carry out attacks similar to Sunday's assault on a Texas community center.

Whether the threat is real, authorities say it points to their real concern over lone wolf attacks carried out in the name of ISIS.

Although there is no evidence that ISIS leaders overseas actually deployed the two men who carried out Sunday night's attack in Texas, federal law enforcement officials believe that the Texas attackers were inspired by ISIS recruiters on social media - perhaps by an American middle man, Mohammad Hassan. He's been a fugitive since 2008, when he joined terror groups in Africa and is known online as "Miski."

"Miski's been pushing for violence for many months, as long as we've been following him, he's been pushing for individuals to commit acts of violence," said David Ibsen, executive director of the Counter Extremism Project.

On a web post purported to be from another ISIS operative, there is a threat against the woman who organized that anti-Muslim event in Texas that came under attack: "We will send all our lions to achieve her slaughter."

And then the claim that ISIS has 71 trained soldiers in 15 different states - Illinois is one of the five which are named. Claiming to have posted the threat is this shadowy American now known as Abu Ibrahim al Ameriki, known to have joined a terrorist group in Pakistan several years ago.

"Preliminary information is ISIS is exaggerating its role in this tragedy that took place in Texas. But we should never take them for granted," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois.

Coming soon, this poster depicts the state department's most wanted ISIS leaders and a sum total of $20 million in rewards now being offered by the U.S. Government for their capture. The poster is to be online and on the ground in Syria and Iraq.

But as we saw in Texas this week, the real problem isn't just overseas. Terrorists may be living right next door.

"Membership and the notion of membership is simply, 'Do you have an iPad? Do you have access to the Cloud? Okay, you're a member of ISIS if you choose to be,'" said Juliette Kayyem, former Asst. Secretary of the Dept. of Homeland Security.

FBI officials in Chicago declined to comment Wednesday on the purported ISIS threat to Illinois. American intelligence officials are evaluating the online claim that ISIS cells operate here, Michigan and 13 other states. They're trying to determine if the source is directly related to ISIS leadership or just an opportunist.