Jury deliberations underway Islamic State case in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – Jury deliberations have begun in the federal trial of three Minnesota men accused of plotting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group.

WCCO-TV reports (http://cbsloc.al/1r30u9P ) that the jury got the case Wednesday after closing arguments wrapped up in the trial of Guled Ali Omar, Abdirahman Yasin Daud (Ahb-DEER’-ah-mahn YAH’-sin Dah-OOD’) and Mohamed Abdihamid Farah (Mo-HAHM’-ed Ahb-dee-HAHM’-id FAHR’-ah). The jury went home Wednesday without reaching a verdict and was expected to resume deliberations Thursday.

All three men have pleaded not guilty to several charges, the most serious of which is conspiracy to commit murder outside the United States. It carries the possibility of life in prison.

During closing arguments, prosecutors pointed to recordings made by an FBI informant of the men’s conversations. Omar’s attorney argued that the comments on the recordings amount to youthful one-upmanship.