IRISH TERRORIST FACES 15YRS JAIL Recruiter conspired with US ‘Jihad Jane’ to wage attacks

AN Irishman has admitted his part in an Islamic terror recruiting campaign alongside an American dubbed “Jihad Jane”.

Ali Charaf Damache, an Irish citizen who was extradited to the US, is facing 15 years behind bars.

The 53-year-old was wanted for several years on charges he conspired with Colleen Larose to recruit extremists online to carry out international terror attacks.

Prosecutors claim Damache, who spent more than 10 years living in Cork and Waterford, acted as an Al-qaeda recruiter.

The Algerian-born man became the first non-us citizen to be extradited to the country on terror charges under the Trump administration in 2017.

He conspired with Larose to “wage violent jihad” through a cell of men and women from Europe and America.

She was jailed for 10 years in 2014 for plotting attacks, including the murder of Lars Vilks.

The Swedish artist had survived several death threats after he drew a cartoon portraying the Prophet Mohammed as a dog.

Damache, who used the online alias “Theblackflag”, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists in a court in Philadelphia on Monday.

Prosecutors said he would be sentenced on October 30, having agreed to serve 15 years in prison.

Upon his release he will be deported to Algeria or Ireland.

Attorney William M Mcswain said: “This is exactly the kind of case we want to be involved in because we want to be in the business of preventing disasters from happening, not dealing with disasters after they happen.”

Despite requests for Damache’s extradition, Irish officials declined on the basis he would be subjected to “inhuman and degrading treatment” if sent to the States.

However, he was extradited by Spain after being detained in Barcelona in December 2015.

We want to be in the business of preventing disasters happening WILLIAM MCSWAIN