Minnesota To Award Programs $250K To Prevent Terror Recruiting

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Department of Public Safety will soon start the process of awarding $250,000 to programs designed to combat terror recruiting in Minnesota.

In a report to lawmakers Monday, the agency said priority will be given to programs that will lead to long-term investment in communities most at-risk.

Dozens of young Somalis have left Minnesota to join terror groups in Somalia or Syria in recent years. Last year, the Legislature allocated the $250,000 for terror prevention efforts. DPS plans to submit a request for proposals in coming weeks.

In its report, DPS proposed several strategies to combat recruiting, including training community members to identify at-risk youth and encouraging social media messaging to counter radical propaganda.

But the report says more study is necessary to determine which approaches will be most effective.