Somali terror suspect to ask US judge for release

MINNEAPOLIS – A Somali man who has been in U.S. custody for more than two years on terror charges is expected to request his release pending sentencing.

Kamal Said Hassan pleaded guilty to providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and other charges. He will appear in federal court in Minneapolis on Monday.

Hassan has admitted he stayed at a Somali training camp for al-Shabab, a violent group that wants to establish an Islamic state in Somalia, in 2007. Hassan says he followed the terror group's orders after he left the camp.

He's one of roughly 20 men who are believed to have traveled from Minneapolis to fight for al-Shabab, but he's the only one in custody pending sentencing. Others are on supervised release while the court processes related cases.