Another Woman Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Join ISIS

ByMIKE LEVINE ABCNews logo
Saturday, April 4, 2015

A Philadelphia native is now the third woman in two days -- and the sixth American in under three weeks -- to be arrested by federal authorities for allegedly plotting to join ISIS overseas or launch attacks on their behalf here in the U.S. homeland.

Keonna Thomas, 30, was charged today for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to the group now so infamous for its brutal propaganda videos and the havoc it's wreaking in war-torn Syria and Iraq.

Last year, Thomas repeatedly posted pro-ISIS messages on social media, and she was ultimately in contact with a known ISIS fighter in Syria and other radicals around the world, according to charging documents.

At one point, the ISIS fighter asked her if she wanted to become a martyr, authorities said.

"[T]hat would be amazing ... a girl can only wish," she allegedly responded.

If convicted, Thomas faces 15 years in prison.

On Thursday, the FBI in New York arrested two women who were allegedly planning to detonate a bomb somewhere in the United States after being radicalized at least, in part, by ISIS.

Last week, two cousins -- one of them a current member of the Illinois National Guard -- were arrested in Chicago for allegedly trying to launch ISIS-inspired attacks in the U.S. and overseas.

A week earlier, a U.S. Air Force veteran, 28-year-old Tairod Pugh of New Jersey, was indicted for his own ISIS-inspired plans. On his laptop, FBI agents allegedly discovered more than 180 jihadist propaganda videos.

In February, three New York City men were arrested on charges they allegedly conspired to join ISIS but also expressed willingness to carry out attacks on the terror group's behalf in the United States.

Over the past 18 months, more than 30 people in the United States have been charged with joining terrorist groups in Syria or trying to make it there.

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