Jihad Jane

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PHILADELPHIA, March 10 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania woman who called herself "Jihad Jane" was indicted for allegedly helping terror groups in attempts to carry out attacks in Europe and Asia.

Colleen R. LaRose, 46, is alleged to have recruited people, particularly women, who had the ability to travel in Europe to "wage violent jihad," the U.S. Department of Justice said. LaRose has been in federal custody since October. An indictment naming her was made public Tuesday.

LaRose allegedly wrote in an e-mail messages that it would be "an honor and great pleasure to die or kill for" Islamic holy war.

The timing of the announcement of her detention may be linked to a series of arrests in Ireland. Seven people were in custody there after an investigation uncovered a plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist who drew a degrading depiction of the prophet Muhammad.

Federal authorities claim LaRose raised funds for militant groups, arranged for false travel documents and used Internet postings to recruit people to carry out violent attacks.

U.S. Attorney Michael L. Levy, at a news conference about LaRose, said the woman was "another very real danger lurking on the Internet" and the blonde, blue-eyed woman's alleged acts "shatters any lingering thought that we can spot a terrorist based on appearance."