Nightclub shooter’s widow granted bail

OAKLAND, Calif. — The widow of the gunman who killed dozens of people at a Florida nightclub is not dangerous and will be released from jail ahead of her trial on charges of aiding the attack, a federal judge in California ruled Wednesday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu said there is no evidence that Noor Salman, 31, has connections to the Islamic State group or holds extremist views. Her husband, Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to several terror organizations during the attack that killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., before police fatally shot him.

Salman’s attorney, Linda Moreno, said it is unusual for bail to be granted in terror-related cases.

Prosecutors argued against releasing Salman, calling her a danger to the public, accusing her of accompanying Mateen on scouting trips to the bar. Prosecutor Sara Sweeney declined to comment about the decision.

Salman will stay behind bars for two days so the government can appeal.

The judge said she was not a flight risk and will wear an electronic ankle monitor while she lives with her uncle in Northern California. After the June 12 attack, she moved from Orlando to her mother’s suburban San Francisco home, where she was arrested in January.

Salman has pleaded innocent to aiding and abetting Mateen, and of lying to investigators after the shooting.