Mom says daughter held in Ireland in terror plot

DENVER (AP) - A 31-year-old mother from Colorado was one of seven Muslims arrested this week in Ireland in an alleged plot to assassinate Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, the woman's parents said Friday.

Christine Mott of Leadville said she was told of the arrest of her daughter, Jamie Paulin-Ramirez, in the case by the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies.

She told The Associated Press that her daughter disappeared last September and later told her family she went to Ireland with her 6-year-old son and married an Algerian whom she met online.

Irish authorities only identified the seven as three Algerians, a Libyan, a Palestinian, a Croatian and an American woman married to one of the Algerians.

They were arrested Tuesday, hours before U.S. authorities unveiled a terror indictment against Colleen LaRose, 46, of Philadelphia, who bills herself as "Jihad Jane".

LaRose is accused of plotting with others to kill Vilks because of his 2007 sketch depicting the head of the Muslim prophet Muhammad on a dog's body. The drawing provoked terror front Al-Qaida in Iraq to offer a $100,000 bounty for his slaying.

Denver FBI officials say they can't confirm that the FBI had contacted Mott about the case. The U.S. Justice Department did not immediately return a call for comment early Saturday.

The Wall Street Journal, quoting anonymous sources familiar with the case, reported on its Web site that Paulin-Ramirez was being held in the alleged plot.

Her stepfather, George Mott, said the FBI seized a desktop computer in late September but did not tell the family what they found.

The Motts said they're concerned for the welfare of their grandson, who has been placed in the custody of Ireland's foster care system.

"This is about my baby," Christine Mott said. "We need some help to get this baby back. I'm concerned about my daughter but I'm concerned about our baby boy because he shouldn't be caught in the middle of this."

The Motts said Paulin-Ramirez announced to her family last spring that she was converting to Islam and began wearing headscarves.

"It came out of left field," Christine Mott said. "I knew she was talking to these people online... What caused her to turn her back on her country, on her family and become this person? I don't know how or why. All I know is she was in contact with this Jihad Jane.

"The only thing I could think of is that they brainwashed her."

Christine Mott said her daughter was getting 4.0 grades as she studied to become a nurse practioner and was working a $30,000 job at Eagle Valley Medical Clinic in nearby Edwards.