Top 10 American jihadis: Where does Jihad Jane rank on the list?

Pennsylvania woman Colleen LaRose, who called herself Jihad Jane, is only the latest in a string of Americans to support violent jihad. Her alleged mission to recruit fighters and murder a Swedish artist falls into a rising tide of homegrown Islamic militants who are using their passports and linguistic skills to promote global jihad.

“Homegrown terrorism is increasing. There is no doubt about it,” says Steven Emerson, author of “Jihad Incorporated: A Guide to Militant Islam in the US.”

“Look at the last year – I think there were more than a dozen would-be attacks, and most involving homegrown Americans. We’re definitely seeing a rise,” he said Wednesday in a telephone interview.

IN PICTURES: Top 10 American jihadis

In the month alone before Ms. LaRose’s October 15 arrest, authorities detained American-born men David Headley and Najibullah Zazi for allegedly conspiring attacks.

Mr. Zazi was allegedly plotting to blow up New York’s subways with homemade bombs. Mr. Headley allegedly scouted locations for the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 170 people, and also planed a strike against the Danish newspaper that published controversial cartoons of Islam's Prophet Muhammad in 2005.

These are just a few of the terrorist plots uncovered in the US since 9/11. Here's a longer list.

LaRose is a caucasian convert to Islam who believed her blonde hair and blue eyes would help her move freely in Sweden to carry out an attack on cartoonist Lars Vilks, according to the indictment unsealed Tuesday in a federal court in Pennsylvania.

“The case demonstrates that terrorists are looking for Americans to join them in their cause and it shatters any lingering thoughts that one can spot a terrorist on a appearance," US Attorney Michael Levy said in the 11-page indictment unsealed in Philadelphia.

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