Two Mississippians arrested for trying to join ISIS

A man and woman detained at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus Saturday appeared in federal court on Monday, charged with trying to provide assistance and materials to a foreign terrorist group.

Officials tell The Clarion-Ledger that Muhammed Oda Dakhalla, of Starkville, and Jaelyn De'Shaun Young, of Vicksburg, were attempting to join ISIS. They allegedly had a plan to get married in Turkey, and cross over into Syria.

The two were detained in the terminal around 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning, and they were headed to Atlanta, sources said.

The two are former Mississippi State University students, according to MSU spokesman Sid Salter. Dakhalla was a Spring 2015 graduate in psychology, and Young is a former sophomore chemistry student.

Salter said the criminal complaint made no mention of MSU, but that school officials would cooperate with authorities in any way possible.

Local authorities have directed questions back to the FBI, and spokeswoman Deborah Madden said she couldn't comment on the investigation.

Airport manager Mike Hainsey told The Dispatch that it was the first time in his 12 years at the airport that federal authorities had detained anyone there.

ISIS is an Islamist militant group that has seized land stretching from northern Syria to central Iraq. Recruiting campaigns via social media and other virtual means has extended their reach throughout the world.

The hearing for the two will continue Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow @TRex21 on Twitter.