Man pleads to perjury in case of missing Somalis

A 25-year-old St. Anthony man has pleaded guilty to perjury in an federal investigation into why a string young men have traveled to Somalia from the Minneapolis area.

As many as 20 young men have left, possibly to fight with terrorist groups. Authorities say they may have been "radicalized" in Minnesota.

On Monday, Adarus Abdulle Ali admitted to a federal judge that he lied to a grand jury last year when he said he didn't know two men who had returned to Somalia. He said he didn't tell the truth because he was scared.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a socialist dictator then turned on each other, causing chaos in the African nation of 7 million.

---

Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com

(Copyright 2009 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.