Jihad Jane Pleads Not Guilty, Trial Set

PHILADELPHIA - Colleen LaRose, a.k.a. "Jihad Jane," pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges inside a federal courthouse in Philadelphia on Thursday.

LaRose and two attorneys appeared in court for three minutes, and her only words to the court were her not-guilty plea.

LaRose was also identified as "Fatima LaRose" and "Jihad Jane" during the proceeding. She appeared wearing corn rows and a pony tail in a green prison jump suit.

Her trial is tentatively set for early May at the same courthouse.

The Montgomery County woman is accused of using the Internet to recruit terrorists as well as plotting the murder of a Swedish cartoonist who was deemed to have offended Islam.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday morning that, according to sources close to the case, LaRose has already confessed to the FBI about her role in the alleged plot.

It's likely that a plea agreement is already in the works, Fox 29's Steve Keeley reported.

The blonde-haired, green-eyed LaRose does not fit the traditional terror profile. But homegrown terrorism plots are on the rise in the U.S., and the feds describe it as an evolving threat.

LaRose's case was kept under wraps for five months after her arrest as Irish authorities worked to make more arrests.

But the authorities in Ireland have already let go about half of the people they picked up last week, including another blond-haired woman from Colorado nicknamed "Jihad Jaime" after her arrest.

LaRose's arraignment Thursday was held in a larger courtroom on the third floor to accomodate the number of attendees who wanted to get in.