Illinois woman accused of aiding extremists appears in court
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A prosecutor told a federal judge Monday that a suburban Chicago mother of four accused of sending money and military equipment to militant groups in Syria and Iraq poses a danger to the community and is a flight risk, so should remain in custody.
Mediha Medy Salkicevic, 34 and one of six Bosnian immigrants charged Friday, raised her fist and smiled at relatives as she appeared at the bond hearing in Chicago. Standing in orange jail clothes and with her hair covered, she also signaled for them to keep their chins up.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole will decide whether to allow the Schiller Park woman to travel on her own to St. Louis, where the case is being handled, or if she will be escorted by U.S. marshals. Cole said he would rule Tuesday.
The defendants are accused of sending money and equipment to groups the U.S. has deemed as terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State group and Nusra Front, an al-Qaida-affiliated rebel group.
Salkicevic works as a cargo handler at O’Hare International Airport, which raises security concerns, prosecutor Angel Krull said; she didn’t elaborate.
Krull also told the court that Salkicevic has relatives in Bosnia, including her mother and three sisters, increasing the chances of her fleeing abroad.
But defense attorney Andrea Gambino said Salkicevic has four children living in the United States and that there’s no evidence she poses a danger.
