Above you can read the indictment filed on March 4 against Colleen R. LaRose, aka “Fatima LaRose,” aka “JihadJane,” in United States District Court. LaRose has been in police custody since late last year, but authorities have only just released the document above, which details the nature of her crimes. It’s fascinating and disturbing stuff and possibly a cautionary tale of how a sad, crazy, lonely person can take steps that end up making them a bona fide enemy of the State with a one-way ticket to federal prison.
From JihadJane's Myspace
LaRose first drew attention to herself as “JihadJane” on Youtube. In late June, 2008, she posted a comment using that screen name in which she said that she was “desperate to do something somehow to help” what she apparently perceived as the suffering of the Muslim people. JihadJane somehow came to the attention of more than one blog shortly after that, and by Sept. 12, 2008, The Jawa Report had posted this entry, noting that her account had been suspended.
LaRose was online as JihadJane long enough, though, to make contact with like-minded folks. By early December of 2008 she’d received e-mail contact from what court papers call an “Unindicted Co-Conspirator.” The Co-Conspirator wanted to wage jihad and end up a martyr. More e-mails followed, from more co-conspirators. They came from South Asia as well as Western Europe. A little knitting circle of conspirators who wanted to assist Muslims with jihad was formed, with JihadJane noting in one e-mail that her appearance would make it easy for her to “blend in with many people” and this would lead to a “way to achieve what is in my heart.”
A male conspirator entered the picture and he and LaRose even discussed marrying so he could get “inside Europe.”
A plan was hatched in early 2009 for LaRose to visit Sweden. There she was to find an unnamed Swedish resident and kill him. LaRose’s response to the command to kill: “I will make this my goal till I achieve it or die trying.”
The co-conspirator directing LaRose to kill elaborated on the nature of the crime as well. The murder was to be done “in a way that the whole Kufar [non-believer] world” was frightened. In July of 2009, Colleen LaRose made it clear to the world at large just how stupid she was: according to the indictment against her, she
… posted an online solicitation for funds to support terrorism on [her behalf], stating, “I write this message on behalf of a respected sister… The sister has been in touch with a brother . . . [who] has appealed for urgent funds stating that his resources are limited. . . . [T]he sister has provided me proofs that have confirmed that the brother is . . . true . . . . I know the sister and by Allah, all money will be transferred to her. The sister will then transfer the money to the brother via a method that I will not disclose.
The Feds – who had probably been watching LaRose for a while, though this isn’t made clear in court documents – questioned her on July 17 last year and according to them, she flat-out lied about posting any requests for funding. After she was questioned in July, LaRose appeared more eager than ever to get the hell out of Dodge. Court papers indicate she sent an e-mail to yet another “Unindicted Co-Conspirator” in Eastern Europe and asked if he had a passport and wanted “to join the jihadist cause.”
Then, in late August last year, JihadJane dived fully into the cloak-and-dagger world she’d been playing with from afar. She traveled to Europe, says the indictment, “with the intent to live and train with jihadists and to find and kill” the Swede – an artist who drew images of Muhammad – whom one of her co-conspirators had targeted. The indictment against her makes it sound like LaRose came surprisingly close to her goal, even communing on a message board with the artist’s fans.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, LaRose’s arrest in October, 2009 was directly connected to the arrests in Ireland around the same time of 7 men who were also plotting to kill the same Swedish cartoonist.
If she is convicted, Colleen LaRose could face life in prison plus a million dollar fine.
Unfortunately for one of them, it looks like there may be more than one Colleen LaRose in Pennsylvania in the same age group (46 or 47) as the woman currently under arrest. Take care before you link.
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Colleen LaRose, AKA “JihadJane,” Arrested for Aiding and Abetting Terrorism
Via MainJustice on Scribd.com
Above you can read the indictment filed on March 4 against Colleen R. LaRose, aka “Fatima LaRose,” aka “JihadJane,” in United States District Court. LaRose has been in police custody since late last year, but authorities have only just released the document above, which details the nature of her crimes. It’s fascinating and disturbing stuff and possibly a cautionary tale of how a sad, crazy, lonely person can take steps that end up making them a bona fide enemy of the State with a one-way ticket to federal prison.
From JihadJane's Myspace
LaRose first drew attention to herself as “JihadJane” on Youtube. In late June, 2008, she posted a comment using that screen name in which she said that she was “desperate to do something somehow to help” what she apparently perceived as the suffering of the Muslim people. JihadJane somehow came to the attention of more than one blog shortly after that, and by Sept. 12, 2008, The Jawa Report had posted this entry, noting that her account had been suspended.
LaRose was online as JihadJane long enough, though, to make contact with like-minded folks. By early December of 2008 she’d received e-mail contact from what court papers call an “Unindicted Co-Conspirator.” The Co-Conspirator wanted to wage jihad and end up a martyr. More e-mails followed, from more co-conspirators. They came from South Asia as well as Western Europe. A little knitting circle of conspirators who wanted to assist Muslims with jihad was formed, with JihadJane noting in one e-mail that her appearance would make it easy for her to “blend in with many people” and this would lead to a “way to achieve what is in my heart.”
A male conspirator entered the picture and he and LaRose even discussed marrying so he could get “inside Europe.”
A plan was hatched in early 2009 for LaRose to visit Sweden. There she was to find an unnamed Swedish resident and kill him. LaRose’s response to the command to kill: “I will make this my goal till I achieve it or die trying.”
The co-conspirator directing LaRose to kill elaborated on the nature of the crime as well. The murder was to be done “in a way that the whole Kufar [non-believer] world” was frightened. In July of 2009, Colleen LaRose made it clear to the world at large just how stupid she was: according to the indictment against her, she
The Feds – who had probably been watching LaRose for a while, though this isn’t made clear in court documents – questioned her on July 17 last year and according to them, she flat-out lied about posting any requests for funding. After she was questioned in July, LaRose appeared more eager than ever to get the hell out of Dodge. Court papers indicate she sent an e-mail to yet another “Unindicted Co-Conspirator” in Eastern Europe and asked if he had a passport and wanted “to join the jihadist cause.”
Then, in late August last year, JihadJane dived fully into the cloak-and-dagger world she’d been playing with from afar. She traveled to Europe, says the indictment, “with the intent to live and train with jihadists and to find and kill” the Swede – an artist who drew images of Muhammad – whom one of her co-conspirators had targeted. The indictment against her makes it sound like LaRose came surprisingly close to her goal, even communing on a message board with the artist’s fans.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, LaRose’s arrest in October, 2009 was directly connected to the arrests in Ireland around the same time of 7 men who were also plotting to kill the same Swedish cartoonist.
If she is convicted, Colleen LaRose could face life in prison plus a million dollar fine.
Unfortunately for one of them, it looks like there may be more than one Colleen LaRose in Pennsylvania in the same age group (46 or 47) as the woman currently under arrest. Take care before you link.
[Philly.com and The Justice Dept. Also, per NYT: JihadJane's MySpace profile]