Two charged for ‘Jihad Jane’ terrorist plot - used Internet to recruit

Two men have been charged in relation to Colleen LaRose, aka "Jihad Jane’s" terrorist case. The pair, one of whom is in prison, have been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.

Ali Charaf Damache (46) is an Algerian who resident of Ireland. He is currently in prison in Ireland for unrelated charges. The United States will seek the extradition of Damache to face trial in Pennsylvania.

Mohammad Hassan Khalid (18) is a Pakistani citizen who lived in Maryland and was arrested there in July.

The two men are accused of using the Internet to recruit for a violent jihad organizations. This also included South Asia explosives training. Damache also faces a charge of attempted identity theft to facilitate an act of terrorism.

If convicted, Damache faces up to 45 years in prison. Khalid faces up to 15 years.

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Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco told CNN, "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."

FBI Executive Assistant Director Mark Giuliano said this case highlights the challenges facing the authorities in the modern age.

He said, “This investigation highlights the diverse threat environment we face today. As revealed in this case, individuals used the Internet to further their radicalization and contribute to the radicalization of others."

Damache and Khalid worked alongside Colleen LaRose and her accomplice from Colorado, Jamie Paulin-Ramirez. This March Paulin-Ramirez pleaded guilty.

According to the BBC, Khalid, an immigrant from Pakistan and resident of the state of Maryland, won a full scholarship to Johns Hopkins University.

One of the two charged is Mohammad Hassan Khalid, 18, a Pakistani immigrant from the state of Maryland reported to have won a full scholarship to Johns Hopkins University.

According to the court’s documents, Damache had married Paulin-Ramirez on the day she moved to Europe even though she had never met him. She planned to live and train with jihadists. Paulin-Ramirez brought her son with her. The couple soon began their training “in the ways of violent jihad”.