Philadelphia Woman Charged With Trying To Join ISIS
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia woman faces charges of trying to join a terrorist organization, and was about to go overseas to act on her beliefs.
She made a brief court appearance Friday before a Federal Magistrate in Philadelphia.
The United States Attorney's Office says 30-year-old Keonna Thomas, also known as Fatayat Al Khilafah, was ready to join, fight with and martyr herself on behalf of Islamic State of Iraq, also known as ISIL. She also referred to herself as the "Young Lioness."
With her hands handcuffed behind her back, she was led before the judge by federal marshals wearing a niqab covering her face and a burqa covering her body, with only her eyes visible.
She faces charges of knowingly attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The Complaint alleges that Thomas posted on Twitter "If we truly knew the realities … we all would be rushing to join our brothers in the front lines pray ALLAH accept us as shuhada," which means martyrs.
Thomas allegedly was in electronic communications with an ISIL fighter in Syria, who asked Thomas if she wanted to be a part of a martyrdom operation.
It appears as though Thomas began stating her allegiance to ISIL as early as August 18, 2013, with posts or reposts on Twitter. Her account has been suspended. One alleged post apparently showed a little boy with a semi-automatic weapon around his shoulders and Thomas voicing her support.
Outside her home, two American flags could be seen hanging from her porch.
Investigators say in early February of this year, she submitted an application for a U.S. Passport.
According to the complaint filed by the United States Attorney's Office, by mid-February she sent an electronic communication to a radical Islamic cleric seeking help from a known overseas ISIL fighter regarding "routes" and her "travel plan."
A court-appointed lawyer with the Federal Defenders Association will represent Thomas at a detention and probable cause hearing next Wednesday. A federal prosecutor called her a flight risk and danger, and will argue for detention.
If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum possible sentence of 15-years in prison.
The arrest does not appear to be linked to the arrests of two women in New York City who also were allegedly planning to join the same terrorist group. It appears that this instance was what terrorism officials fear most: a potential "lone wolf" attempt.
