Prosecutor argues Sudbury terror suspect too ‘radicalized’ for bail

The defense lawyer also told the court that the FBI tried to recruit Mehanna as an informant against members of the Muslim community three times in 2007 and 2008, and even warned him he'd be prosecuted if he didn't cooperate. He said Mehanna refused to cooperate and knew he would likely face criminal charges, but still did not flee the country.

Carney argued that Mehanna, an Internet blogger who is accused of translating pro-jihadist material from Arabic to English and posting it on the Internet, would not be a danger if released to the custody of his parents and suggested the court could forbid him from going onto the Internet.

Chakravarty fired back that the government recognizes everyone's right to say or think what they want, "even if they say they want to kill Americans.'' However, he said Mehanna crossed the line, "engaging in action and inciting other people to engage in action."

US Magistrate Judge Leo T. Sorokin took the matter under advisement, meaning Mehanna will remain jailed for now.

Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit and wearing shackles, Mehanna was led into US District Court in Boston under heavy security. About 150 supporters gathered at the courthouse, but only about 20 of them, including Mehanna's family, were able to get into the small courtroom. He blew kisses to his parents and held one finger in the air as he nodded to supporters.

Mehanna pleaded not guilty today to charges of providing and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, and making false statements to law enforcement.

A second man charged in the indictment with being part of the conspiracy, Ahmad Abousamra, 28, formerly of Mansfield, is believed to be in Syria, according to court filings.

Prosecutors allege that Mehanna and Abousamra tried to join a terrorist training camp overseas and plotted to shoot shoppers at a suburban mall, assassinate two unidentified US government officials, and attack US soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mehanna's supporters, who have formed a website, freetarek.com, stood outside the courthouse holding signs that read, "Free Tarek, injustice to anyone is a threat to everyone,'' and "Stop persecuting Muslims.''

A group of young boys, wearing white T-shirts that said, "Justice for Tarek,'' said Mehanna had been their teacher. Before his arrest several weeks ago, Mehanna taught math, science and religion to middle-schoolers at Alhuda Academy, a school in Worcester.

In court, Carney presented letters of support for Mehanna to the magistrate, including some from his students. A letter from one seventh-grader said Mehanna taught him that "non-violence is the way to go,'' according to Carney.

The prosecutor told the magistrate that the government believes Mehanna is "a person of two faces,'' the son of a well-respected family that he portrays to the public, and the Internet blogger who idolized Osama bin Laden as "my real father'' and relished and incited violence against Americans.

Among the group of Mehanna's supporters was at least one dissenter, Ilya Feoktistov, of the group Americans for Peace and Tolerance, who said, "Boston has one of the oldest, moderate, educated Muslim communities in America, but unfortunately in recent years there's been an influx in radical ideology that's having a terrible effect on Boston Muslims.''

He added, "We're very concerned about what they are teaching kids at Islamic centers that are radical around here."