Not guilty plea for Minnesota man in Somali case

A Minnesota man accused of helping young Somalis travel from the U.S. to fight in their homeland has pleaded not guilty.

Omer Abdi Mohamed, 26, of St. Anthony, entered his plea Monday in federal court in St. Paul.

A superseding indictment made public last month accuses Mohamed of holding mobilizing meetings at mosques and homes and conspiring with others to provide money and weapons. Mohamed faces a July 19 trial on terrorism charges.

Prosecutors say he never traveled to Somalia but helped others who did.

He is free but required to wear an electronic monitor on his ankle.

About 20 young men are thought to have traveled from the Minneapolis area to Somalia in recent years to join al-Shabab, a group classified by the U.S. government as a terror organization.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.