Algerian in ‘Jihad Jane’ case pleads guilty

Damache’s extradition to US in doubt

DUBLIN, Feb 27, (RTRS): An Algerian at the center of the so-called Jihad Jane conspiracy pleaded guilty during an Irish proceeding on Wednesday that may hasten his extradition to the United States on terrorism charges, Irish television reported.

Ali Damache, who has lived in Ireland for a decade, pleaded guilty in court to a single count of sending a menacing message by telephone to an American Muslim activist, according to RTE television, reporting from the courthouse in Waterford, Ireland.

Damache, 47, has been held in Ireland for nearly three years, and was standing trial in Waterford this week, when the unexpected plea came. A more serious charge of threatening to kill the American activist was withdrawn.

The trial was unrelated to the Jihad Jane case, and US authorities have been waiting for the Irish proceedings to finish so that they can extradite Damache to the United States.

The US terrorism charges are far more serious. He is accused of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists — specifically, by luring two American-born women Muslim converts to Ireland in 2009.

Colleen LaRose, the Pennsylvania woman who called herself Jihad Jane, has pleaded guilty in US court to conspiring with Damache to try to kill Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who had angered Muslims by depicting the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).