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Jarrett William Smith: US soldier 'discussed bombing news network' | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The FBI has arrested a US Army soldier on suspicion of sharing instructions via social media on how to make bombs. | |
Jarrett William Smith allegedly suggested using a vehicle bomb to attack a major US news network. | Jarrett William Smith allegedly suggested using a vehicle bomb to attack a major US news network. |
The 24-year-old wrote online about wanting to fight for a far-right group in Ukraine, say prosecutors. | The 24-year-old wrote online about wanting to fight for a far-right group in Ukraine, say prosecutors. |
The private first class also suggested killing members of far-left group Antifa, says the FBI. | The private first class also suggested killing members of far-left group Antifa, says the FBI. |
The infantry soldier, who was based at Fort Riley, Kansas, was arrested on Saturday and charged with distributing information relating to weapons of mass destruction. | |
According to charging documents, Mr Smith had been in contact since 2016 with another American, Craig Lang, who had travelled to Ukraine to fight for a paramilitary nationalist group, the Right Sector. | According to charging documents, Mr Smith had been in contact since 2016 with another American, Craig Lang, who had travelled to Ukraine to fight for a paramilitary nationalist group, the Right Sector. |
Mr Smith allegedly discussed with Mr Lang on Facebook how to build bombs. | Mr Smith allegedly discussed with Mr Lang on Facebook how to build bombs. |
"Oh yeah, I got knowledge of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] for days," said Mr Smith on 8 December 2018, according to the documents. | |
"We can make cell phone IEDs in the style of the Afghans. I can teach you that." | "We can make cell phone IEDs in the style of the Afghans. I can teach you that." |
Suspect was seeking other 'radicals' | |
In subsequent online chats with an FBI source in August and September this year on the app Telegram, Mr Smith discussed making a "large vehicle bomb" to attack an unspecified American news network's headquarters. | In subsequent online chats with an FBI source in August and September this year on the app Telegram, Mr Smith discussed making a "large vehicle bomb" to attack an unspecified American news network's headquarters. |
The name of Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke also allegedly came up during one of the conversations. | The name of Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke also allegedly came up during one of the conversations. |
At one point the FBI source asked whether Mr Smith could think of anyone in Texas who might be worth attacking, according to charging documents. | At one point the FBI source asked whether Mr Smith could think of anyone in Texas who might be worth attacking, according to charging documents. |
Mr Smith allegedly said: "Outside of Beto? I don't know enough people that would be relevant to cause a change if they died." | Mr Smith allegedly said: "Outside of Beto? I don't know enough people that would be relevant to cause a change if they died." |
On 19 August, Mr Smith allegedly told the FBI informant that he was seeking to meet other "radicals" like himself. | |
Two days later he described how to build bombs out of common household ingredients. | |
He allegedly gave the FBI source tips on how to build an explosive device that can be triggered by mobile phone. | |
"Be careful with the fully armed device," he allegedly wrote. | |
"There have been cases where Middle Eastern insurgents built these bombs only for them to detonate prematurely because telemarketers or people with wrong numbers who unwittingly called the devices." | |
According to prosecutors, the suspect has admitted to providing people in online chat rooms with information about bomb-making. | |
He stated that he gave bomb-making instructions so as to cause "chaos", investigators say. | |
Mr Smith faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. |
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