US soldier conspired to plan attacks on the 9/11 memorial, maximize troop lethality – NBC New York

An American soldier is facing charges that he communicated with someone he thought was an ISIS member to plan attacks on New York City landmarks – including the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan – and to provide tactical military advice to terrorists, officials said. on Tuesday.

Cole James Bridges, 20, of Stow, Ohio, is accused of attempting to materially support terrorism and attempting to kill American soldiers. He reportedly became involved in these efforts from August 2020 through this month.

Bridges, a private first-class Third Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Georgia, reportedly spoke on an online forum about wanting to help ISIS attack the 9/11 Memorial and target American soldiers in the Middle East. His contact on the online forum was actually a secret FBI agent.

Bridges was reportedly radicalized by online video and offered to provide ISIS army training materials and tactics to “facilitate ISIS fighters’ efforts to repel US Special Forces and kill American soldiers,” the criminal complaint says.

Bridges reportedly started researching and consuming online advertising promoting jihadists and their ideology in September 2019; he would also have expressed his support for ISIS and jihad on social media at that time, says the complaint.

It was only in October last year that Bridges reportedly started communicating with the FBI undercover agent that he thought he was affiliated with ISIS. During these communications, which were made using an encrypted messaging app, he allegedly expressed frustration with the U.S. military and his desire to help ISIS eliminate American soldiers. The criminal complaint alleges that he went on to advise “alleged ISIS fighters” who planned attacks, including with regard to potential targets in New York City. He allegedly offered parts of a US Army training manual and also guidance on military tactics.

On October 16, 2020, Bridges is accused of sending a warning to the alleged ISIS fighter about planning any operation. This message, according to the complaint, stated in part: “They need to be extremely careful and not discuss plans over the phone or messages. Unfortunately, I cannot participate. But the only involvement I can do is to advise [stet] and training techniques. . . your brother can
Feel free to contact me anytime. “

When he was asked at the end of that month about the most effective way to conduct an attack, Bridges reportedly replied, “Striking the enemy’s heart and establishing a clear statement and message to the leaders.”

Later in the exchange, Bridges offered to come to New York to meet the ISIS fighter with whom he thought he had been in contact. At that point, the conversation shifted to potential targets in New York City, officials say.

In mid-November, the secret agent sent Bridges photos of federal, local and foreign government buildings in and around the New York area. This agent stated that “everything is so tightly guarded, I don’t know if it is possible to do an operation in New York”.

Bridges allegedly advised the agent to “choose his targets wisely” and asked about other potential targets under consideration. It was not immediately clear which government buildings were the next topic of conversation, but Bridges allegedly said that “there was not enough firepower” for them. That was when the issue of the 9/11 Memorial was raised, the criminal complaint says.

In December, Bridges reportedly started providing the “ISIS” agent with instructions on how ISIS fighters could attack US forces in the Middle East. Among other efforts, he is accused of diagramming specific military maneuvers and commenting on satellite imagery to help these fighters maximize the lethality of any attack on American troops. The positioning and armament of ISIS was also discussed.

Bridges also advised on the best way to strengthen an ISIS camp against a U.S. attack, including installing explosives in certain buildings to kill American troops, the complaint alleges. This month, he went so far as to allegedly provide a video of himself in body armor standing in front of an ISIS flag and made a symbolic gesture of support for ISIS in that clip, according to the criminal complaint.

On January 12, Bridges reportedly sent a second video in which he recounts an advertising speech in support of an early ISIS attack on American troops using a voice manipulator at the request of the secret agent, federal officials claim.

Searches for keywords like “American soldier firing” and “badass jihadi” found on his computer by court order date from December 25, 2019, according to the complaint. He reportedly updated his Facebook profile and experience to reflect his views last August. Images of the changes were included in the complaint (see below).

Bridges faces up to 20 years in prison for attempted material support and attempted murder of members of the US military count. He is due to appear in federal court in Georgia on Thursday, officials said.

Attempts to contact a prospective Bridges attorney were unsuccessful early Tuesday afternoon.

Manhattan prosecutor Audrey Strauss accused Bridges in a statement of betraying the oath he swore to defend the United States, allegedly trying to provide ISIS with tactical advice to ambush and kill fellow officers.

“Our troops risk their lives for our country, but they should never face such danger at the hands of one of their own,” said Strauss. “Today, thanks to the efforts of agents and detectives from JTTF and our partners in the Bridges Department of Defense is in custody and facing federal terrorism charges for their alleged crimes.”

Assistant FBI director William Sweeney Jr. also called Bridges for his alleged betrayal, saying he “conspired with someone he believed to be an ISIS sympathizer to help ISIS attack and kill American soldiers in the Middle East”.

“Fortunately, the person he communicated with was an FBI employee, and we were able to prevent his evil wishes from becoming a reality,” continues Sweeney’s statement. “Bridges could have chosen a life of honorable service, but instead traded it for the possibility of a long prison sentence. This case should serve as a reminder that the FBI’s New York JTTF will never give up on its commitment to protect our nation of all those who seek to harm you ”.