WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Humza Ismail has n't spent much time in Raleigh , North Carolina , since he started graduate school two years ago . But when he heard two former acquaintances were arrested on terrorism charges this week , he says , `` Honestly , I was n't surprised . '' Omar Aly Hassan , left , and Ziyad Yaghi were clear on where they stood on terrorism , an acquaintance said . Omar Aly Hassan , Ziyad Yaghi and five others are charged with conspiring to commit violent jihad overseas . An eighth suspect is still being sought , authorities have said . When he lived in Raleigh , Ismail worshipped at the same mosque as Hassan and Yaghi . When groups of young men talked there , Ismail says , the conversation often turned to religion and politics , and Hassan and Yaghi made it clear where they stood . `` When it came to something like suicide bombing , they would say , 'If it 's a benefit for the Muslims then something like that can be permissible , ' `` Ismail says . `` I could tell it was something they wanted to do . '' But , he adds , `` They never indicated or said 'we are going to make jihad overseas . ' '' Ismail says the duo spoke in glowing terms about Osama bin Laden , calling him a scholar and a mujahedeen . `` You could tell they were being influenced by somebody , '' Ismail says . He does not know by whom . He feels they were susceptible to a message of violence `` because it sounded cool and exciting . '' Ismail says he strenuously disagreed with Yaghi and Hassan 's views on terrorism even , he says , getting into a public shouting match with them at a restaurant . He says he told them , `` You ca n't do this , man . You ca n't say it is OK. `` That is corruption and terrorism and that is not permissible in Islam . '' Ismail says he and others raised concerns about Hassan and Yaghi to officials at the Islamic Center of Raleigh , but were `` overlooked . '' `` I did my part , '' Ismail says . Imran Aukhil , a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Raleigh , told CNN on Thursday that he had no information about complaints concerning Hassan and Yaghi . On Saturday , however , he informed CNN that he had researched the matter and learned there was a complaint several years ago against an individual at the mosque . Aukhil said he did not have the name of that person . `` It was reported to the FBI , '' said Aukhil . `` The FBI did take note of it in their investigation . '' Efforts to reach attorneys representing Hassan and Yaghi were unsuccessful .
NEW : Ismail says violence made against person at mosque a few years ago . ' Ismail attended the same mosque as two of seven men arrested this week . Ismail : When it came to violence , ` ` I could tell it was something they wanted to do '' Ismail says the two spoke in glowing terms about Osama bin Laden .