Suspect In Terrorism Support Case Makes New Bid For Release
CHICAGO (AP) -- A 20-year-old American charged with seeking to join al-Qaida-affiliated fighters in Syria is again asking a federal judge to release him pending trial.
Abdella Ahmad Tounisi's lawyer will make that request at a Thursday hearing in Chicago.
Molly Armour says in a filing her client has "matured substantially" while in jail since his 2013 arrest and that he won't pose a threat.
Tounisi was arrested at O'Hare International Airport trying to board a plane to Turkey. He's charged with material support for terrorism by allegedly attempting to join Jabhat al-Nusrah.
After his arrest, one judge ordered his release pending trial. But a second judge vacated that decision.
Another suburban Chicago youth, Mohammed Hamzah Khan, was arrested on similar charges last month for allegedly seeking to join Islamic State militants.
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