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| F.B.I. Arrests U.S. Soldier Who Discussed Bomb Plot, Authorities Say | F.B.I. Arrests U.S. Soldier Who Discussed Bomb Plot, Authorities Say |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Federal authorities have arrested a United States soldier who discussed plans to attack a major American news network, shared detailed instructions online about how to build explosives and suggested that Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic presidential candidate, could be a potential target, the authorities said. | Federal authorities have arrested a United States soldier who discussed plans to attack a major American news network, shared detailed instructions online about how to build explosives and suggested that Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic presidential candidate, could be a potential target, the authorities said. |
| The soldier, Jarrett William Smith, a specialist assigned to the First Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kan., had also once expressed a desire to travel to Ukraine to fight with a far-right paramilitary group, the authorities said. | |
| Specialist Smith, 24, was arrested over the weekend and charged in federal court in Topeka, Kan., on Monday. He faces one count of distributing information related to explosives and weapons of mass destruction, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in Kansas. | Specialist Smith, 24, was arrested over the weekend and charged in federal court in Topeka, Kan., on Monday. He faces one count of distributing information related to explosives and weapons of mass destruction, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in Kansas. |
| If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. | If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. |
| Before enlisting in the Army, Specialist Smith talked about his desire to fight in Ukraine with a far-right paramilitary group, according to an F.B.I. affidavit in the case that cited his social media exchange with another man who traveled there to fight. | Before enlisting in the Army, Specialist Smith talked about his desire to fight in Ukraine with a far-right paramilitary group, according to an F.B.I. affidavit in the case that cited his social media exchange with another man who traveled there to fight. |
| “If I cannot find a slot in Ukraine by October I’ll be going into the Army,” he wrote in a June 2016 exchange, according to the affidavit. “To fight is what I want to do.” | “If I cannot find a slot in Ukraine by October I’ll be going into the Army,” he wrote in a June 2016 exchange, according to the affidavit. “To fight is what I want to do.” |
| He joined the Army the next year. | He joined the Army the next year. |
| In recent months, Specialist Smith shared on social media specific instructions for how to make bombs, the authorities said. The comments came in group chats and in conversations with a confidential source and an undercover F.B.I. agent, according to the affidavit. | In recent months, Specialist Smith shared on social media specific instructions for how to make bombs, the authorities said. The comments came in group chats and in conversations with a confidential source and an undercover F.B.I. agent, according to the affidavit. |
| In August, he discussed a plan to lead an attack in the United States and said he was looking for other “radicals” like himself, the authorities said. | In August, he discussed a plan to lead an attack in the United States and said he was looking for other “radicals” like himself, the authorities said. |
| In one exchange, according to the affidavit, he talked about killing members of antifa, a coalition of activists that has surfaced in recent years to oppose fascist, racist and far-right groups. In another, he suggested attacking the headquarters of an unnamed “major news network” with a vehicle full of explosive materials. | In one exchange, according to the affidavit, he talked about killing members of antifa, a coalition of activists that has surfaced in recent years to oppose fascist, racist and far-right groups. In another, he suggested attacking the headquarters of an unnamed “major news network” with a vehicle full of explosive materials. |
| As recently as Friday, the authorities said, he offered instructions to an undercover agent about how to build an explosive with household chemicals and other common equipment. “Making AK-47s out of expensive parts is cool,” he said, according to the affidavit. But imagine, he said, “going to Walmart instead of gun store to buy weapons.” | As recently as Friday, the authorities said, he offered instructions to an undercover agent about how to build an explosive with household chemicals and other common equipment. “Making AK-47s out of expensive parts is cool,” he said, according to the affidavit. But imagine, he said, “going to Walmart instead of gun store to buy weapons.” |
| When the undercover agent suggested a desire to target a Texas politician, Specialist Smith suggested Mr. O’Rourke, the former congressman from El Paso who has made gun control a central platform in his bid for the presidency, according to excerpts from the conversation included in the affidavit. | When the undercover agent suggested a desire to target a Texas politician, Specialist Smith suggested Mr. O’Rourke, the former congressman from El Paso who has made gun control a central platform in his bid for the presidency, according to excerpts from the conversation included in the affidavit. |
| “You got anyone down in Texas that would be a good fit for fire, destruction and death?” the agent asked on an encrypted messaging service. | “You got anyone down in Texas that would be a good fit for fire, destruction and death?” the agent asked on an encrypted messaging service. |
| “Outside of Beto?” Specialist Smith said, according to the affidavit. “I don’t know enough people that would be relevant enough to cause a change if they died.” | “Outside of Beto?” Specialist Smith said, according to the affidavit. “I don’t know enough people that would be relevant enough to cause a change if they died.” |
| The F.B.I. arrested Specialist Smith the next day. | The F.B.I. arrested Specialist Smith the next day. |
| A spokesman said Monday that the Army was aware of the allegations against Specialist Smith and had cooperated with the F.B.I. on his arrest. “These allegations violate our Army values so we take them very seriously,” the Army said in a statement. | A spokesman said Monday that the Army was aware of the allegations against Specialist Smith and had cooperated with the F.B.I. on his arrest. “These allegations violate our Army values so we take them very seriously,” the Army said in a statement. |
| Some watchdog groups have warned that the armed forces can serve as a training and recruiting ground for extremists and that some groups encourage their newer members to enlist to get weapons training. In February, the authorities arrested a Coast Guard lieutenant and self-described white nationalist who is accused of plotting to kill prominent journalists and Democratic politicians, according to court documents. | Some watchdog groups have warned that the armed forces can serve as a training and recruiting ground for extremists and that some groups encourage their newer members to enlist to get weapons training. In February, the authorities arrested a Coast Guard lieutenant and self-described white nationalist who is accused of plotting to kill prominent journalists and Democratic politicians, according to court documents. |
| After he enlisted, Specialist Smith received training at Fort Benning, Ga., and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Tex., from late 2017 until he transferred to Fort Riley, Kan., this summer, according to the Army and court records. | After he enlisted, Specialist Smith received training at Fort Benning, Ga., and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Tex., from late 2017 until he transferred to Fort Riley, Kan., this summer, according to the Army and court records. |
| He had not been deployed, the Army said. | He had not been deployed, the Army said. |
| In an interview with the F.B.I., the authorities said, Specialist Smith acknowledged that he routinely gave instructions on how to build explosives in online chat rooms, even when others said they planned to use the information to hurt people. | In an interview with the F.B.I., the authorities said, Specialist Smith acknowledged that he routinely gave instructions on how to build explosives in online chat rooms, even when others said they planned to use the information to hurt people. |
| According to the affidavit, he said he did so to cause “chaos.” | According to the affidavit, he said he did so to cause “chaos.” |