United States

Judge Orders Alleged Islamic State Propagandist Held

The 34-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Iraq is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists

A judge says a Chicago computer-science specialist accused of running online propaganda campaigns for the Islamic State poses a threat and so must stay jailed until trial.

At a Wednesday hearing in Chicago, the federal judge cited photos arresting agents allegedly found on Ashraf Al Safoo's phone this month showing bomb-making components.

The 34-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Iraq is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. A conviction carries a maximum 20-year prison term.

The propaganda allegedly included video showing a Christmas gift containing a ticking time-bomb.

The complaint also describes the propagandists' annoyance at becoming the butt of jokes after a text meant to warn about "beheading (President Donald) Trump" actually warned about "kissing and hugging" Trump. An app used to translate the Arabic apparently led to the error.

Copyright The Associated Press
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