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Pak-origin teen charged in 'Jihad Jane' terror plot

October 21, 2011 09:21 IST

An 18-year-old Pakistani-American, who conspired with US terror accused 'Jihad Jane', has been charged with providing material support to terrorists and plotting to carry out "violent jihad" in South Asia and Europe.

Maryland resident Mohammad Hassan Khalid, a legal immigrant from Pakistan, has been charged along with Ali Charaf Damache, an Algerian man who resided in Ireland.

Khalid is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and was arrested in July this year.

He faces 15 years in prison if convicted.

Damache, 46, was arrested in Ireland in March last year and the US intends to seek his extradition for trial in Pennsylvania. He faces 45 years in prison if convicted.

"Today's indictment, which alleges a terrorist conspiracy involving individuals around the globe who connected via the Internet -- including a teenager and two women living in America -- underscores the evolving nature of violent extremism," Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco said.

According to the indictment, Damache and Khalid conspired with Colleen LaRose, who also went by the name of Jihad Jane, and others to provide material support and resources, including logistical support, recruitment services, financial support, identification documents and personnel, to a conspiracy to kill overseas.

LaRose had pleaded guilty in February 2011 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country and attempted identity theft.

Damache, Khalid, LaRose and others recruited online men and women with passports to travel to Europe and South Asia and wage violent jihad there, besides soliciting funds online for terrorists.

The indictment alleges that in July 2009, Damache sent an email to Khalid asking him to recruit online "some brothers that can travel freely... with EU passports ....[A]nd I need some sisters too."

In July 2009, Khalid posted online solicitation for funds to support terrorism on behalf of LaRose and later sent emails to multiple online forums requesting the deletion of all posts by LaRose after she was questioned by the FBI.

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