Washington: In a setback for federal law enforcers, a US magistrate has ordered the release of Masoud Ahmad Khan, who was arrested and charged with allegedly recruiting, training and helping Lashkar-e- Toiba's (LeT) terrorist activities in Kashmir.

US magistrate judge T Rawles Jones of the district court of Alexandria freed Masoud Ahmad Khan at a bail hearing on June 30, three days after the Justice Department announced indictments against Khan and 10 other Washington area Muslims, charging them with training to work with terrorists to fight for Muslim causes abroad.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) described Khan as a naturalised American, but did no disclose the country of his birth. He is said to have downloaded the pictures of FBI headquarters from the Internet.

Government called the group "a violent Virginia 'jihad' network" and wanted Khan and others held as "a menace to the community". (Of the 11, three are said to be in Saudi Arabia).

Judge Jones said he took into account Khan's lack of criminal record and "substantial ties to the community" in addition to "the nature of the offences charged".

However, Jones ordered that Khan, who lives in a Maryland suburb, be electronically monitored.

It was however unclear whether Khan would be released to his mother's custody before the government's appeal against his release is heard, the 'Washington Post' reported.

Prosecutors said they would make the appeal by July 1. Under federal court rules, the appeal will be heard in the US district court, which ranks above a hearing before a magistrate judge.

PTI