This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22535766
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Four jailed in Minnesota over al-Shabab recruitment | Four jailed in Minnesota over al-Shabab recruitment |
(34 minutes later) | |
Four men have been given prison sentences in the US state of Minnesota in connection with the recruitment of fighters for a Somali militant group. | Four men have been given prison sentences in the US state of Minnesota in connection with the recruitment of fighters for a Somali militant group. |
Abdifatah Isse, Salah Ahmed and Ahmed Mahamud were jailed for three years by a federal judge after pleading guilty to providing material support to al-Shabab, a designated terrorist group. | Abdifatah Isse, Salah Ahmed and Ahmed Mahamud were jailed for three years by a federal judge after pleading guilty to providing material support to al-Shabab, a designated terrorist group. |
Omer Mohamed was given 12 years for conspiracy to provide material support. | Omer Mohamed was given 12 years for conspiracy to provide material support. |
Prosecutors had recommended reduced sentences because the men co-operated. | Prosecutors had recommended reduced sentences because the men co-operated. |
Isse and Ahmed admitted travelling to Somalia in December 2007 and attending a training camp. They left the East African state in the spring of 2008 after having second thoughts. | Isse and Ahmed admitted travelling to Somalia in December 2007 and attending a training camp. They left the East African state in the spring of 2008 after having second thoughts. |
Mahamud said he had helped raise money so that others could travel to Somalia. | Mahamud said he had helped raise money so that others could travel to Somalia. |
Although Mohamed was not accused of travelling to Somalia, he admitted that he had helped some recruits get plane tickets. | Although Mohamed was not accused of travelling to Somalia, he admitted that he had helped some recruits get plane tickets. |
He was characterised by prosecutors as a local leader, and witnesses at the trial of another defendant said he had used his knowledge of the Koran to convince young men to fight. | He was characterised by prosecutors as a local leader, and witnesses at the trial of another defendant said he had used his knowledge of the Koran to convince young men to fight. |
Mohamed's lawyer denied that he played any role in recruitment. | Mohamed's lawyer denied that he played any role in recruitment. |
"These defendants, by providing material support to a designated terrorist organisation, broke both the law and the hearts of family members across the Twin Cities," the US Attorney for Minnesota, Todd Jones, said in a statement. | "These defendants, by providing material support to a designated terrorist organisation, broke both the law and the hearts of family members across the Twin Cities," the US Attorney for Minnesota, Todd Jones, said in a statement. |
Al-Shabab means The Youth in Arabic. It emerged as the radical youth wing of Somalia's now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts in 2006, as it fought Ethiopian forces who had entered Somalia to back the weak interim government. | |
Although it has been removed from several key towns and cities by government forces, backed by troops from the African Union, al-Shabab still controls much of the country. | |
Somalia is widely regarded as a failed state, hit by numerous conflicts since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991. |