CHICAGO (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a 19-year-old Chicago-area man accused of trying to join the Islamic State group searched the terms “suicide” and “suicide bombings” on his phone before his 2014 arrest.
That new detail in Mohammed Hamzah Khan’s case came in a court filing in which prosecutors oppose a motion for his release pending trial. The late Tuesday filing seeks to show Khan would pose a serious threat if freed.
Prosecutors say Khan also searched the phrase, “jihad is obligatory.”
Defense attorney Thomas Durkin has told a judge that a psychiatrist determined Khan isn’t mentally ill. Durkin said it’s more an issue of poor critical-thinking skills.
Durkin says Khan could be released to get counselling and wouldn’t pose a threat.
Khan has denied attempting to provide material support to terrorists.