2 Minnesota women guilty of aiding Somali terror group

[vector7]

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2 Minnesota women guilty of aiding Somali terror group

By AMY FORLITI Associated Press The Associated Press
Friday, October 21, 2011 12:57 AM EDT


FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2010 file photo, Hawo Mohamed Hassan, left, and Amina Farah... (AP Photo/Craig Lassig, File)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Two Minnesota women who claimed they were helping the poor in Somalia were convicted Thursday of conspiring to funnel money to a terrorist group as part of what prosecutors called a "deadly pipeline" sending funds and fighters to al-Shabab.

After the verdicts, one of the women, Amina Farah Ali, told the judge through an interpreter that she was happy because she was "going to heaven no matter what," and condemned those in authority, saying: "You will go to hell." She was ordered into custody pending her sentencing.

Ali, 35, and Hawo Mohamed Hassan, 64, were each charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Ali also faced 12 counts of providing such support, for allegedly sending more than $8,600 to al-Shabab from September 2008 through July 2009, while Hassan faced two counts of lying to the FBI.

Both were found guilty on all counts. The terrorism-related counts each carry up to 15 years in prison, while lying to the FBI carries up to eight years. No sentencing date was set, and prosecutors said it was too early to predict what sentence they'd recommend.

The women, both U.S. citizens of Somali descent, were among 20 people charged in Minnesota's long-running federal investigations into recruiting and financing for al-Shabab, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group with ties to al-Qaida. Investigators believe at least 21 men left Minnesota — home to the country's largest Somali community — to join al-Shabab.

Though others have pleaded guilty to related charges, the women were the first to go to trial.

The verdicts will likely lead to other guilty pleas, said Omar Jamal, first secretary of the Somali mission to the United Nations in New York. He also said it would be difficult for law enforcement agencies to rebuild the trust they had worked to establish with the Somali community.

Prosecutors had emphasized that the case was not about a community or a religion, but two women who deliberately broke the law.

[American Patriot]

Unfortunately, they won't be executed.

[AGEUSAF]

Yea they have been showing this alot on the local news of course. I don't understand why these people come here if they just want to act like they are still there.

[catfish]

Yea they have been showing this alot on the local news of course. I don't understand why these people come here if they just want to act like they are still there.

You familiar with the "crack stacks" in Minneapolis? The Somalias have taken them over and I can just imagine what goes in in there now. All of the plumbing is being remodeled and my shop did a bid on it. My foreman was part of the bid and had to go inside to check it out. In one unit they ripped off the cabinet doors, replaced with chicken wire, and now they raise chickens in the cupboards. Apparently the smell when you walk through the front door makes you want to puke.

[Ryan Ruck]

You familiar with the "crack stacks" in Minneapolis? The Somalias have taken them over and I can just imagine what goes in in there now. All of the plumbing is being remodeled and my shop did a bid on it. My foreman was part of the bid and had to go inside to check it out. In one unit they ripped off the cabinet doors, replaced with chicken wire, and now they raise chickens in the cupboards. Apparently the smell when you walk through the front door makes you want to puke.

Unbelievable!

I'm all for legal immigration but, you know, when you mix dirty water with clean water the result is dirty water.

[Phil Fiord]

That is disgusting. Chickens are a very dirty bird to begin with. I cannot imagine the laws there allow such unhealthy living.

You familiar with the "crack stacks" in Minneapolis? The Somalias have taken them over and I can just imagine what goes in in there now. All of the plumbing is being remodeled and my shop did a bid on it. My foreman was part of the bid and had to go inside to check it out. In one unit they ripped off the cabinet doors, replaced with chicken wire, and now they raise chickens in the cupboards. Apparently the smell when you walk through the front door makes you want to puke.

[catfish]

The iconic buildings, most often referred to as the crack stacks, with little Somalia as a close second. A utopian vision for a community, based on a European community. This is practically the heart of the Somalia community in Minneapolis.

[vector7]

New Al-Shabab tape urges terrorist attacks in Canada, U.S.

MOGADISHU, Somalia— The Associated Press

Published Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 1:08PM EDT Last updated Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 5:56PM EDT

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An al-Qaeda-linked Somali militant group has released an audio tape calling for terrorist attacks in a host of countries including Canada.

The tape posted by al-Shabab was allegedly made by an American citizen who blew himself up during an attack on an African Union base in Somalia's capital on Saturday that killed at least 10 people.

More related to this story

• Kenya’s Somali mission causes a devastating blowback at home
• Kenyan army closes in on al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia
• Kenyan troops to stay in Somalia

The young man urges others to “do jihad in America, do jihad in Canada” and in other parts of the world.

He also urges other youth not to “just chill all day” but to carry out attacks against non-Muslims around the world.

The young man had an American accent and mixed Muslim terminology with American slang.

The U.S. Embassy was not able to comment, but U.S. authorities estimate at least 20 American passport holders have joined the insurgents in Somalia.

About 9,000 African Union peacekeepers supporting Somali government troops have almost pushed al-Shabab from the capital of Mogadishu.

Earlier this month, Kenya opened a second front, sending hundreds of soldiers across the border into southern Somalia.

Somalia has not had a functioning government in more than 20 years.