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

US soldier accused of communicating with someone he believed to be a member of ISIS to plan attacks on New York landmarks – including the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan – and provide military advice tactics at terrorists, federal officials said Tuesday.

Cole James Bridges, 20, of Stow, Ohio, is charged with Attempting Material Support for Terrorism and Attempting to Kill American Soldiers. He is believed to have participated in those efforts from August 2020 until this month.

Bridges, a private first class from the Third Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Ga., Reportedly spoke in an online forum about her desire to help ISIS strike the 9/11 memorial and target US soldiers in the Middle-East. His contact on the online forum was actually an FBI undercover agent.

Bridges was reportedly radicalized by online videos and offered to provide ISIS with military training materials and tactics to “facilitate ISIS fighters’ efforts to repel U.S. special forces and kill American soldiers, “says the criminal complaint.

Bridges reportedly started researching and consuming online propaganda promoting jihadists and their ideology in September 2019; he also reportedly expressed support for ISIS and jihad on social media at the time, according to the complaint.

It wasn’t until October of last year that Bridges reportedly started contacting the FBI undercover agent he believed to be affiliated with ISIS. During these communications, which were made using an encrypted messaging app, he is said to have expressed his frustration with the US military and his desire to help ISIS eliminate US soldiers. . The criminal complaint alleges that he continued to provide advice to “so-called ISIS fighters” planning attacks, including regarding potential targets in New York. He also reportedly offered portions of a US Army training manual and advice on military tactics.

On October 16, 2020, Bridges is accused of sending a warning to the alleged ISIS fighter about planning an operation. This message, according to the complaint, read in part: “They must be extremely careful not to discuss their plans over the phone or in messages. Unfortunately, I cannot participate. But the only implication I can make is advice. [stet] and training techniques. . . your brother can
please feel free to contact me anytime. “

When asked later in the month about the most effective way to carry out an attack, Bridges reportedly replied, “Hit the heart of the enemy and send a clear statement and message to the leaders.”

Later in the exchange, Bridges offered to come to New York to meet with the ISIS fighter he believed he had come into contact with. At that point, the conversation turned to potential targets in New York City, officials said.

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

Bridges reportedly advised the agent to “choose your targets wisely” and inquire about other potential targets being considered. It was not immediately clear which government buildings were the topic of the follow-up conversation, but Bridges reportedly said there was “not enough firepower” for those. It was then that the subject of the 9/11 Memorial was brought up, according to the criminal complaint.

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

Bridges also advised on how best to fortify an IS encampment against a US attack, including wiring certain buildings with explosives meant to kill US troops, according to the complaint. This month, he went so far as to provide a video of himself in a bulletproof vest standing in front of an ISIS flag and made a symbolic gesture of support for ISIS in this clip, according to the criminal complaint.

On January 12, Bridges reportedly uploaded a second video in which he recounted a propaganda speech in support of an anticipated ISIS attack on American troops using a voice manipulator at the behest of the ISIS. undercover agent, federal officials say.

Searches for keywords such as “US soldier shot” and “badass jihadist” found on his computer via a warrant date back to December 25, 2019, according to the complaint. He reportedly updated his Facebook profile and background to reflect his views last August. Pictures of the changes were included in the complaint (see below).

Bridges faces up to 20 years in prison for each attempt to provide material support and attempt to assassinate members of US military leaders. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Georgia on Thursday, officials said.

Attempts to reach a possible lawyer for Bridges failed in early Tuesday afternoon.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney General Audrey Strauss accused Bridges in a statement of betraying an oath he had sworn to defend the United States by allegedly trying to provide ISIS with tactical advice to ambush and kill d ‘other service members.

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

FBI Deputy Director William Sweeney Jr. also called out Bridges for his alleged betrayal, saying he was “plotting with someone he believed to be an ISIS sympathizer to help ISIS attack and killing American soldiers in the Middle East “.

“Fortunately, the person he contacted was an FBI employee, and we were able to keep his bad wishes from coming true,” Sweeney’s statement continued. “Bridges could have chosen a life of honorable service, but instead he traded it in for the possibility of a long prison term.” This case should remind us that the New York FBI JTTF will never give up on its commitment to protect our nation from all. those who seek to harm him. “