The FBI has arrested a U.S. soldier who allegedly discussed plans to bomb a major American news network, planned to travel to Ukraine to fight with violent far-right group Azov Battalion and allegedly distributed information online on how to build bombs. He also allegedly suggested targeting Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke.
According
to charging documents in the case, Jarrett William Smith, who transferred to
Fort Riley, Kansas, in July, joined the U.S. military only after first
expressing his desire to fight in Ukraine.
On Aug.
19, 2019, Smith allegedly spoke with an FBI informant in an online chat group
and discussed a plan for an attack inside the U.S., his search for more
"radicals" like himself, and the possibility of killing members of
the group Antifa.
In
suggesting that the headquarters of the major news network could be a target,
Smith allegedly said: "A large vehicle bomb. Fill a vehicle full of
[explosives] then fill a ping pong ball with [commonly available chemical] via
drilling then injection. Put the ball in the tank of the vehicle and leave. 30
minutes later, BOOM."
Then, in
a Telegram conversation with an undercover FBI agent on Sept. 20, Smith
allegedly had this exchange:
FBI: You
got anyone down in Texas that would be a good fit for fire, destruction and
death? SMITH: Outside of Beto? I don't know enough people that would be
relevant enough to cause a change if they died.
Smith
had allegedly been in communication with another American, Craig Lang, who
traveled to Ukraine and fought with another far-right group, the Right Sector.
They
were in contact since 2016. On Dec. 8, 2018, Smith allegedly led a group chat
on Facebook with Lang that included discussing Smith's ability to build bombs.
Smith
allegedly said, "Oh yeah, I got knowledge of IEDs for days. We can make
cell phone IEDs in the style of the Afghans. I can teach you that."
Smith
was arrested on Sept. 21, and he allegedly admitted to the FBI that he provides
people online with instructions for building bombs.
According
to charging documents, at least one of the instructions he allegedly provided
in recent days would not have resulted in a viable explosive device.
He has
been charged in Kansas with distributing information relating to weapons of
mass destruction.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbi-arrests-army-soldier-allegedly-discussed-plans-bomb/story?id=65802902
