An Arizona woman was arrested this week after trying to help al Qaeda buy weapons “to kill American soldiers,” federal authorities said Friday.
Jill Marie Jones, a U.S. citizen who has long been obsessed with the terrorist group and its beliefs, openly discussed her plans to join al Qaeda with two undercover FBI agents, one of whom she believed to be a member of the militant organization, according to a criminal complaint.
During their conversations about two months ago, Jones agreed to send the purported terrorist $500 to purchase scopes for rifles that would be used against American troops, prosecutors said.
The 35-year-old Chandler resident was busted on Wednesday while trying to board a plane at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Authorities said she was planning to go to Turkey and then Syria “to begin her travel to join al Qaeda.”
Jones had previously booked a flight to Afghanistan, but she had to change flights because of airport closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the complaint.
She was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
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