Detention hearing set for Virginia man charged with supporting terrorist group

‘South Park’ critic in Va. court on terror charge

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A Virginia man known for an online threat against the creators of the animated series “South Park” is returning to court on unrelated charges that he twice tried to join a Somali terror group linked to al-Qaida.

A detention hearing is scheduled Friday afternoon for 20-year-old Zachary Chesser in U.S. District Court on charges of providing material support to the al-Shabab terror group, which claims responsibility for a July 11 bombing in Uganda that killed more than 75 people. Two attorneys were appointed Thursday to represent Chesser.

FBI agents say Chesser tried to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabab as a fighter. He is not charged for an online posting saying the creators of the animated series “South Park” risked death by mocking the Prophet Muhammad.