Arrested Muslims Had Prayer Group Plan

IRISH EXAMINER.com - Ireland ^ | Friday, March 12, 2010 | By Cormac O’Keeffe

[Cindy]

SNIPPET: “SOME of the seven Muslims arrested as part of an international probe into an alleged plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks had planned to set up an extremist prayer group in Waterford to radicalise other Muslims, gardaí believe.”

SNIPPET: “The seven – four men and three women – were arrested by armed gardaí on Tuesday in Waterford and Cork following a lengthy Garda investigation based on information provided by US intelligence agencies.

Five of the seven suspects – three Algerians, one Libyan and one Palestinian – had their periods of custody extended on Wednesday night on application to the courts for a further three days.

Two others – a Croat and a US citizen – had their detention periods extended for three days yesterday morning.”

SNIPPET: “Gardaí had the suspects and associates under surveillance for four months.

Investigators suspect that three of those arrested – an Algerian, Croatian and Libyan – were at “similar levels” in the group.”

SNIPPET: “Garda sources have confirmed the arrests are linked to the prosecution of American woman Colleen LaRose over an alleged plot to murder Mr Vilks. The woman, who went by the online name of “Jihad Jane”, visited Ireland last September for two weeks when she met some of those arrested.”

SNIPPET: “The computer experts are examining internet downloads on the computer and other documentation seized. Much of this is in Arabic and gardaí have contracted a company that provides interpretation services to the Gardaí to assist.”

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, March 12, 2010

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

UPDATE:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704416904575121900350150356.html

MARCH 15, 2010

“U.S. Woman Released in Terror Case”

By NEIL SHAH in Waterford, Ireland, VANESSA O’CONNELL in New York and EVAN PEREZ in Washington

SNIPPET: “U.S. officials are still investigating what role Ms. Paulin-Ramirez may have played in the purported plot against the cartoonist, according to people close to the situation.

Investigators are still looking into her Internet contacts to determine whether Ms. Paulin-Ramirez was an active participant in the alleged plot or just swept up in the probe by virtue of being in touch with others charged.”

SNIPPET: “The Justice Department said it wouldn’t confirm her identity. There are no U.S. charges pending against her and her status in Ireland is unclear.”

SNIPPET: “The police have sought and been granted an extension on the three remaining males in custody, including an Algerian man, which means they can be held until Tuesday.”

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

April 2, 2010

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://philadelphia.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/ph040210.htm

Women from Colorado and Pennsylvania Charged with Terrorism Violations in Superseding Indictment

WASHINGTON—A superseding indictment unsealed this afternoon in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania charges Jamie Paulin Ramirez, a U.S. citizen and former resident of Colorado, and Colleen R. LaRose, aka “Fatima LaRose,” aka “JihadJane,” a resident of Pennsylvania, with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. The superseding indictment adds Ramirez as a defendant to what was previously an indictment charging only LaRose.

The new charges were announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Michael L. Levy, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; and Janice K. Fedarcyk, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI in Philadelphia.

The superseding indictment charges that LaRose and Ramirez traveled to and around Europe to participate in and in support of violent jihad. According to the superseding indictment, Ramirez exchanged e-mail messages with LaRose during the summer of 2009, in which LaRose invited Ramirez to join her in Europe to attend a “training camp.” Ramirez is charged with accepting the invitation and asking to bring along her minor male child. On Sept, 12, 2009, Ramirez traveled to Europe with her child with the intent to live and train with jihadists. The day she arrived in Europe, the indictment alleges, Ramirez married an unindicted co-conspirator whom she had never before met in person.

The superseding indictment charges Ramirez, age 31, with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charges against LaRose remain unchanged, and carry a maximum potential sentence of life in prison and a $1 million fine.

Ramirez was arrested this afternoon in Philadelphia after voluntarily flying to the United States from abroad.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Philadelphia, the FBI Field Division in New York, and the FBI Field Division in Denver. It is being prosecuted by Jennifer Arbittier Williams, Assistant U.S. Attorney from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Matthew F. Blue, Trial Attorney from the Counterterrorism Section in the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

The public is reminded that an indictment is an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.