Minneapolis woman Tnuza Jamal Hassan, 19, is facing federal terrorism charges after allegedly attempting to funnel support to al-Qa’ida and torching buildings at her former university. The indictment, unsealed by U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Brooker, lands three explosive counts: attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, arson, and making a false statement under oath.
Hassan, a former student at St. Catherine University (SCU) in St. Paul, Minnesota, is accused of drafting and delivering a recruitment letter in March 2017 urging fellow students to “join the jihad in fighting” and explicitly calling for them to “join Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Al Shabaab.” The indictment alleges she lied to FBI agents during a September 22, 2017 interview, denying authorship, knowledge of the letter’s origin, and involvement in its delivery—three flat denials prosecutors now say were deliberate falsehoods.
Days before her FBI interview, on September 19, 2017, Hassan allegedly attempted to provide material support to al-Qa’ida, the very group she promoted in her letter. The nature of the support is not detailed in the indictment, but the charge carries severe federal penalties, including up to 15 years in prison. Her actions triggered a multi-agency probe led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, pulling in the St. Paul Police Department and fire investigators.
The arson charge stems from January 17, 2018, when Hassan allegedly set multiple fires across the SCU campus, including inside St. Mary Hall. The blazes were severe enough to prompt a full response from the St. Paul Fire Department. The indictment describes the damage as malicious, suggesting intent beyond mere vandalism. Prosecutors say the fires were part of a broader pattern of radicalized and destructive behavior.
Hassan is already in custody on a Ramsey County District Court charge of first-degree arson and remains jailed at the Ramsey County Jail. Federal authorities have not yet disclosed a date for her initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter is leading the federal prosecution.
The charges against Tnuza Jamal Hassan, 19, of Minneapolis, Minn., are presumed innocent until proven in court. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of domestic radicalization efforts on college campuses. This investigation was conducted by the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force, St. Paul Police, and St. Paul Fire Department arson investigators.
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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