National Security

Former US Soldier Plotted To Aid ISIS, Carry Out ‘Fort Hood’ Style Attack

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Steve Birr Vice Reporter
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Authorities arrested a former U.S. soldier with the National Guard Sunday for actively plotting with a foreign Islamic State source to carry out a “Fort Hood” style terrorist attack.

Mohamed Jalloh, 26, from Sterling, Va., will appear in Alexandria court Tuesday, charged with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Jalloh served in the Army National Guard but quit the service after being inspired by a number of online lecture videos of Anwar al-Awlaki, a now-deceased radical cleric. Jalloh bought an assault rifle as part of an FBI sting Saturday after many failed attempts due to improper paperwork, reports WJLA.

Before the FBI began its investigation Jalloh was already speaking with an unidentified ISIS member he likely met on a trip to Africa.

“Nidal Hasan type of things,” Jalloh told the FBI informant regarding his intentions. “That’s the kind of stuff I started thinking.”

The deadly Islamic terrorist attack at the Fort Hood military base claimed 13 lives in 2009.

In addition to his documented intentions, Jalloh also gave $500 dollars to the informant, thinking it was going towards ISIS activity. The court affidavit details his interactions with the ISIS member, who asked him if he wanted to facilitate an attack on their behalf, reports The Washington Post.

“I really want to but I don’t want to give my word and not fulfill it,” Jalloh told the ISIS member.

He cited the preaching of al-Awlaki as the inspiration for his actions, saying it is the duty of all Muslims to actively rebel against America and other Western powers. According to the affidavit, Jalloh said a Muhammad cartoon contest event would be a good place for an attack and that attacks must be carried out with a sense of urgency.

“You have to pick a action and take it cuz time is not on your side,” Jalloh wrote to an unidentified person.

The FBI began investigating Jalloh in March after an ISIS member put him in contact with an FBI informant in the U.S. Jalloh’s sister is serving on his defense team and denies her brother’s involvement with ISIS.

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