Pa. Woman Used Web to Recruit Jihadists, Feds Say

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CN) - A woman who called herself "JihadJane" was charged with using the Internet to recruit terrorists and raise money to "wage violent jihad in South Asia and Europe" because she was "desperate to do something somehow to help" suffering Muslims. Colleen LaRose, also known as Fatima La Rose, agreed to kill an unidentified Swedish citizen after getting orders from an unnamed terrorist, and even traveled there to carry out her plan, according to a four-count indictment against the suburban Philadelphia woman.

According to the indictment, LaRose "recruited men online to wage violent jihad in South Asia and Europe." She also recruited women online "who had passports and the ability to travel to and around Europe in support of violent jihad."

The indictment says she also solicited funds for terrorists online. It didn't say whether she carried out the murder of the unidentified Swedish citizen, but the indictment didn't include murder hcarges.

The indictment In June 2008, LaRose posted a comment on YouTube as JihadJane, stating that she is "desperate to do something somehow to help" the suffering Muslim people.

An unknown co-conspirator contacted her in December stating his or her desire to "wage jihad and become a 'shahed,'" or martyr, according to the indictment.

LaRose then swapped e-mails with a second person, identified in the indictment only as a "resident of a Western European country," describing how she desires to become a martyr in the name of Allah, and how her physical appearance would allow her to "blend in with many people," which "may be a way to achieve what is in my heart."

During a third e-mail exchange in March 2009 with a South Asian resident, LaRose was asked to invite another male fighter to "come here and get the training."

During that exchange, the third correspondent asked LaRose to "marry me to get inside Europe," and LaRose agreed, according to the indictment.

In March 2009, she sent an e-mail to the Swedish Embassy seeking instructions on how to acquire permanent residency there, officials said.

The third accomplice then sent LaRose an e-mail encouraging her to go to Sweden, find an unspecified person "and kill him... this is what I say to u," according to the indictment.

Feds say LaRose agreed: "I will make this my goal till I achieve it or die trying."

LaRose then sought money to support her mission.

"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," according to the indictment. "I know the sister and by Allah, all money will be transferred to her."

In August 2009, prosecutors say LaRose removed and hid her hard drive from her home computer and traveled to Europe "with the intent to live and train with jihadists, and to find and kill" the unspecified Swedish citizen.

Feds say she became a citizen of an artists' enclave in Sweden before being arrested in October 2009 in Philadelphia.

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