MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A federal prosecutor says three Minnesota men were persistent in their efforts to join the Islamic State group in Syria and knew they would be killing people once they got there.

Closing arguments began Tuesday in the trial of 22-year-old Abdirahman Yasin Daud, 22-year-old Mohamed Abdihamid Farah and 21-year-old Guled Ali Omar. They've pleaded not guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to commit murder outside the United States.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Docherty says the men were "exceptionally persistent" in efforts to join an "exceptionally violent" group. Docherty says audio recordings, witness testimony and other evidence shows the men were intent. Hey says they discussed violence in the U.S., and getting more people into the pipeline to Syria.

Attorneys for the defendants will give closing arguments Tuesday afternoon.

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