US woman charged with aiding Somalia-based militia with Al-Qaeda links

Washington, Nov 16 (ANI): A Californian woman has been charged with aiding a Somalia-based militia with ties to Al-Qaeda, the US Department of Justice has said.

Nima Ali Yusuf was arrested on November 12 and has been charged with "conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists (and) conspiracy to provide material support to al-Shabaab," The News quoted US attorney Laura Duffy, as saying in a statement.

The San Diego resident has also been charged with "making false statements to a government agency in a matter involving international terrorism," Duffy added, without providing further details.

The first two charges each carry a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison and a fine of 250,000 dollars. The false statements charge carries a maximum penalty of eight years and a 250,000-dollar fine.

24-year-old Yusuf will be held without bail until a detention hearing on Thursday.

The Shabaab- a radical Islamist insurgency bent on toppling the US-backed government in Mogadishu- had claimed responsibility for the July 11 suicide bombings in Uganda that killed 76 people.

Earlier this month, three San Diego residents were indicted on similar charges of providing funding and other support for the militant group.

However, it was not clear whether the two cases were linked, and the US attorney's office declined to comment on the matter. (ANI)