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60 MINUTES
Air Date: Sunday, October 30, 2016
Time Slot: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM EST on CBS
Episode Title: "TBA"
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

AN AMERICAN LEADER OF AN ISIS CELL TELLS SCOTT PELLEY HOW VIDEOS OF THE DEAD ANWAR AL-AWLAKI PERSUADED HIM TO SUPPORT ISIS ON AMERICAN SOIL - "60 MINUTES"

Abdirizak Warsame Speaks in his First Interview, an Excerpt Appears on The CBS EVENING NEWS Tonight

A 21-year-old Minneapolis man, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material to support ISIS, tells Scott Pelley how he was radicalized by the videos on the internet of the dead American al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. Speaking in his first interview, Abdirizak Warsame takes responsibility for his actions and the blame for the deaths of friends he helped send to fight in Syria. His interview will be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, Oct. 30 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. An excerpt of Warsame's interview will appear on tonight's, Friday, Oct. 28, CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY.

A transcript of the excerpt is below. Please credit 60 MINUTES.

TONIGHT WE HAVE A RARE INTERVIEW WITH AN AMERICAN WHO BECAME THE LEADER OF AN ISIS CELL, SENDING YOUNG MEN TO THEIR DEATHS IN SYRIA. ABDIRIZAK WARSAME HAS AN EXOTIC NAME, BUT MINNEAPOLIS IS THE ONLY HOME HE'S EVER KNOWN.

HE'S ONE OF THOUSANDS OF SOMALI REFUGEES WELCOMED THERE SINCE THE 1990'S.WARSAME IS FACING 15 YEARS IN PRISON. IN AN INTERVIEW FOR THIS SUNDAY'S 60 MINUTES, HE TOLD US HE WAS PULLED INTO TERRORISM ONLINE, THROUGH THE LECTURES OF ANWAR AL-AWLAKI -- AN AL-QAEDA CLERIC AND PREACHER OF WAR.

(WARSAME) He explained how Islam was, you know, like, my calling. It was almost like he was talking to you. And like it made you feel like you were special, you know? And like you're the chosen one.

(PELLEY ) How much time did you spend watching these videos?

(WARSAME) I would just continuously watch them when I wasn't doing anything. When I wasn't at school or doing my homework or, you know, out with my family. I was watching those videos.

AND AROUND THE VIDEOS GREW A CONGREGATION.

(WARSAME) I thought I was the only one. But when I met this group of men that I was friends with, it was kind of shocking to see that they also knew about these videos too. We would listen and listen until we became, you know, wrapped in this ideology. All those lectures would talk about how it wasn't a time for just, you know, talking, but it was a time for action.

THE ROUTE TO 'ACTION' WAS A LINK AWAY IN THE VIDEOS OF ISIS. WARSAME AND ELEVEN FRIENDS SET THEIR SIGHTS.

(PELLEY ) Why did you want to go to Syria?

(WARSAME ) I would be helping people who are oppressed and people who are Muslim.

THE FIRST TWO REACHED SYRIA, YUSUF JAMA, AND ABDI NUR.

(PELLEY ) What happened to him?

(WARSAME) I believe he's dead right now.

(PELLEY) How did that happen?

(WARSAME) He was fighting and he was killed.

YUSUF JAMA WAS ALSO KILLED.

(PELLEY) Are you responsible for their deaths?

(WARSAME) Yeah, I believe I am responsible for their deaths and I think about that every day.

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