LEWISTON — Young Maine residents apparently are not being recruited for international terrorism, but law enforcement officials are keeping close watch.

Members of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security heard testimony Wednesday morning about the al-Qaida-affiliated Somali terror group al-Shabab recruiting young Somali men from Minnesota in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

There are no public records of such an effort happening in Maine.

“If such a situation were to come to light, and if a local state or local law enforcement agency were to become aware of some kind of violation, we feel confident they would refer that to the appropriate agency — maybe the FBI, maybe some other agency,” said Donald E. Clark, assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Maine.

Clark, along with representatives from the FBI, Maine State Police and law enforcement officials from around Maine, sits on the state’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The task force was created soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to monitor terrorist activity — both international and domestic — in Maine.

The U.S. House Committee on Wednesday heard testimony from Minneapolis law enforcement officials and other experts on terrorists who recruit American Muslims.

Specifically, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota W. Anders Folk recounted how 20 Somali men left Minneapolis between September 2007 and October 2009 to travel to Somalia for training with al-Shabab, a terrorist group attempting to overthrow the Somali government. 

Many of those men fought for al-Shabab and many were implicated in terrorist activities. Examples included returning to the United States and providing material support to terrorists, lying to the FBI and leading attacks in Somalia, including suicide bombing attacks. Several others have been arrested in the U.S. and in other countries.

According to Folk’s testimony, the group is an emerging threat, and domestic programs are necessary to keep it in check.

That’s what the Maine task force is designed to do, Clark said.

The task force has made no public charges of terrorism. Clark, the FBI and local law enforcement officials would not say whether they’ve even investigated any cases. In fact, very little information about what the task force does is made public. Clark said exact membership in the task force and which Maine communities have been involved was classified information.

“We address any potential national security threats in the state of Maine, specific to terrorism matters, both international and domestic,” said FBI Senior Resident Agent Todd DiFede said. “I can tell you that there are no unsealed indictments in this district.”

Lewiston police Chief Michael Bussiere said his department has had representatives work with the task force from time to time, but he said he couldn’t comment on details.

“In general terms, if something is brought to our attention, we know where to go and who to contact,” Bussiere said. “That’s the point of a group like this. There are protocols in place to respond to and examine different types of issues.”

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