Colleen LaRose, referred to as "Jihad Jane," played a key role in a 2009 scheme to aid Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group in Somalia. Alongside another American woman, she embraced extremist ideologies through online platforms. The documentary features interviews with law enforcement and family members, along with archival footage, to outline their actions and motivations. It focuses on the involvement of women in terrorism and its impact on national security.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Meet Colleen LaRose, a key figure in modern terrorism.
Find out how online networks facilitate radicalization.
See the implications of women's roles in terrorist activities.

Did You Know

Colleen LaRose was involved in a plot to support Al-Shabaab in 2009.
The film features interviews with law enforcement and family members.
Jihad Jane's case shows the role of women in terrorism.

Perfect For

Terrorism studiesWomen's roles in extremismNational security analysis

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Colleen LaRose?

Colleen LaRose, also known as 'Jihad Jane,' was a central figure in a 2009 plot to support the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

What year was the documentary 'Jihad Jane' released?

The documentary 'Jihad Jane' was released in 2019.

What is the main focus of the documentary?

The documentary focuses on the radicalization of Colleen LaRose and another American woman through online networks and extremist ideologies.

Comments

What are people saying?

We wrote about this film

Play More Like This

23m

Radicalisation and Video Games

2025•23m

Over two-thirds of individuals involved in planning attacks since 2023 are under the age of 21, according to the Directorate General for Internal Security in France.

Radicalisation and Video Games

2025

26m

Extremism in America

2023•26m

Domestic terrorism in the United States has increased significantly, with a focus on the rise of far-right extremist beliefs and groups over recent decades.

Extremism in America

2023

23m

The Pied Piper of Jihad - Yemen

2011•23m

More than 20 Australian citizens have been listed by Western intelligence agencies as Persons of Interest for their alleged involvement in radical organizations.

The Pied Piper of Jihad - Yemen

2011

1h56m

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Jihad

2024•1h56m

Five armed fighters join Abd al-Rahman Hayashi in a mission to cut off supply routes to the Syrian regime during the civil war.

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Jihad

2024

16m

The Rise of British Jihadists in Syria

2014•16m

In Syria, Amer Deghayes from Brighton joins the fight against Assad forces, motivated by the death of his brother Abdullah and the arrival of his brother Jaffer.

The Rise of British Jihadists in Syria

2014

44m

Online Psychopath Killer On The Prowl

2020•44m

More than 20,000 alleged offenses related to online dating and social media have been reported to police in the past three years.

Online Psychopath Killer On The Prowl

2020

21m

British Jihadi describes normal life in IS

2017•21m

A former British jihadi recounts his disillusionment with ISIS after initially being drawn to Syria by the group's romanticized portrayal of jihad.

British Jihadi describes normal life in IS

2017

53m

Return From ISIS

2020•53m

An American mother and her children found themselves in ISIS' caliphate in Syria, facing the challenges of returning home afterward.

Return From ISIS

2020

1h56m

Inside The Perfect Western Family That Became Jihadis

2026•1h56m

The Ayachi family, a European Muslim family, navigates a double life as they become embroiled in the conflict in the Middle East, impacting the West.

Inside The Perfect Western Family That Became Jihadis

2026

48m

THE FACES OF FEMALE DJIHADISTS

2026•48m

In Southeast Asia, women are increasingly involved in terrorism, with 80% of suicide bombings attributed to female jihadists in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

THE FACES OF FEMALE DJIHADISTS

2026

1h40m

For Sama

2019•1h40m•★8.2TMDB

Five years of conflict in Aleppo are documented through the eyes of a journalist and mother raising her daughter amid the Syrian Civil War.

For Sama

2019

1h37m

1989 - The fall of Communism

2025•1h37m

More than 30,000 East Germans fled to the West in the late 1980s, prompting massive uprisings and significant political changes in Eastern Europe.

1989 - The fall of Communism

2025

Explore Jihad Jane

Deep Dive Topics FAQ Stream

Where else to watch

1h40m

For Sama

2019•1h40m•★8.2TMDB

Five years of conflict in Aleppo are documented through the eyes of a journalist and mother raising her daughter amid the Syrian Civil War.

For Sama

2019

No digital watch option in your country

1h30m

American Jihad

2017•1h30m•★8.0TMDB

Former Jihadists in the United States discuss recruitment methods and the effects of home-grown Jihadism on their communities.

American Jihad

2017

1h24m

A Radical Life

2022•1h24m•★7.8TMDB

Tania Joya reflects on her twelve-year marriage to John Georgelas, an American linked to ISIS, sharing personal anecdotes from a radical environment.

A Radical Life

2022

1h31m

I Am Jane Doe

2017•1h31m•★5.7TMDB

50% of the film's profits were donated to non-profit organizations that support children affected by human trafficking.

I Am Jane Doe

2017

53m

15 Years of Terror

2016•53m•★6.3TMDB

Over the past 15 years, radical organizations have cultivated an army of self-radicalized individuals through social media platforms.

15 Years of Terror

2016

1h23m

Talhotblond

2009•1h23m•★6.5TMDB

A 47-year-old man pleaded guilty to murdering his 22-year-old co-worker over an online love triangle involving a woman posing as an 18-year-old girl.

Talhotblond

2009

1h17m

Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West

2005•1h17m•★5.7TMDB

Radical groups in the Middle East promote jihad and violence against the West, as illustrated by footage from Arab television and extremist teachings.

Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West

2005

47m

My Son the Jihadi

2015•47m•★6.7TMDB

A British mother confronts the reality of her son, Thomas, who joined the Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

My Son the Jihadi

2015