| |  |
BREAKING NEWS | |
“JIHAD JANE” ACCUSED OF USING INTERNET IN PLOT TO RECRUIT TERRORISTS
March 10, 2010
(NATIONAL) -- In one the more bizarre alleged terrorists plots to ever make the news, the Department of justice unsealed an indictment Tuesday alleging that a 46-year old blond haired, blue-eyed Pennsylvania woman wasn’t kidding when in June 2008 she posted a comment on YouTube using the screen name "JihadJane" and saying she was "desperate to do something somehow to help" suffering Muslims.
Colleen R. LaRose is now accused of getting set to embark on a plot to recruit terrorists and commit murder in Sweden, according to federal prosecutors.
Authorities allege that LaRose and five unindicted co-conspirators recruited men and women over the Internet to be terrorists in South Asia and Europe and to finance terrorism.
A Department of Justice spokesman wouldn't confirm that the case was related to a group of people arrested in Ireland Monday on suspicion of plotting against a Swedish cartoonist who depicted the prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog.
However one report said a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said LaRose had targeted the Swedish cartoonist and had online discussions about her plans with at least one of the suspects in Ireland.
LaRose, also known as "Fatima LaRose," was arrested in Philadelphia by the FBI Oct. 15 after returning from a trip to Europe, and appeared before a federal magistrate the next day and agreed to pretrial detention.
She did not enter a plea, but U.S. Attorney Michael Levy said he expects LaRose to be arraigned soon.
LaRose has been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, making false statements to the FBI and attempted identity theft. If convicted of all charges, LaRose could potentially face life behind bars.
The indictment claimed LaRose and her alleged co-conspirators used online messages to establish relationships with one another and to communicate about their plans, which included martyring themselves, soliciting funds and passports for terrorists and skirting travel restrictions to promote terrorism.
David Kris, assistant attorney general for national security, said the indictment against LaRose "underscores the evolving nature of the threat we face."
And the threat, as explained in the indictment, is that terrorists will even use suburban American women to further their aims.
In February 2009, LaRose, who has blond hair and blue eyes, allegedly wrote to one of her co-conspirators advising the individual that her appearance would allow her to "blend in with many people."
| |
|
BACK TO
HOME
| |
|
