in this minneapolis neighborhood, home to the nation's largest somali-american population. 17-year-old berhan hassan was a straight "a" student who wanted to be a doctor, then he disappeared in 2008. >> sometimes i can't sleep. >> reporter: his mother who at the time didn't want to be identified told cnn she had no idea where he'd gone. until he called. >> mom, i'm somalia, don't worry about me. i'm okay. >> reporter: but he wasn't okay, he was fighting for the group al shabaab, not long after, she was told he was dead. this rampage in kenya has many americans wondering how long those behind it come to the u.s. omar jamal, a somali diplomat, says al shabaab is already here. how many people, how many young people have been taken from this community by recruiting. >> approximately 30 to 40. that's the most often asked question. and i think nobody can nail down an exact figure. >> reporter: even as we sip coffee in middle america, he's sure the terrorists are recruiting nearby.