US soldier helped ISIS plan terrorist attack in New York

On January 19, law enforcement officials announced the arrest of 20-year-old Cole James Bridges, a private first class in the US Army. His accuse in federal terrorism: he assisted ISIS in planning a terrorist attack in New York, and in attacking and killing American soldiers in the Middle East.

He was also charged with an attempt to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as well as an attempt to kill US troops.

Bridges joined the United States Army in September 2019 and was assigned as a cavalry scout for the 3rd Infantry Division based in Fort Stewart, Georgia. He himself is from Ohio.

Since at least 2019, Bridges began to study online jihad propaganda and the ideology of violence, and was imbued with this. He expressed support for ISIS and popularized the idea of ​​jihad on social media.

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Around October 2020, Bridges began an online chat with an undercover FBI agent posing as an ISIS supporter who had contacts with the organization's militants in the Middle East. In his communications, Bridges expressed frustration with the US military and a desire to help ISIS. Bridges then provided training and instruction to alleged ISIS fighters who allegedly planned attacks in the United States, including advice on selecting potential targets for an attack in New York, such as the 11/XNUMX Memorial. Bridges also provided the undercover agent with excerpts from the US Army training manual and military tactics manual for what he thought was for use by ISIS.

In December 2020, Bridges began providing the agent with instructions for alleged ISIS fighters on how to attack US forces in the Middle East. Among other things, he sketched specific military maneuvers designed to help ISIS fighters increase the lethality of attacks on American troops. He advised on how best to strengthen the ISIS camp to repel a US Special Forces attack, including by bombarding certain buildings with explosives to destroy US troops.

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In January 2021, Bridges sent an agent a video of him in a bulletproof vest standing in front of a flag often used by ISIS fighters and making a gesture symbolizing support for this extremist group. About a week later, he posted a second video of him delivering a propaganda speech in support of an expected ISIS attack on US troops.

So, Cole James Bridges, US Army Private First Class, faces up to 20 years in prison.