The American soldier accused of try to conspire with him Islamic State (IS) will attack New York and for helping the terrorist group kill American troops in the Middle East, he was sentenced this Friday to 14 years in prison in a federal courtroom in New York.
Cole Bridges, 24 years old and also known as Cole Gonzalezwas sentenced to 168 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and attempted assassination of members of the American army.
Bridges was arrested in January 2021 and pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in June 2023.
According to the prosecution, the active soldier began communicating in October 2020 with a person who was allegedlywas in contact with IS fightersbut what is itHe was actually an FBI agent.
During these conversations, the soldier expressed his frustration with the US military and his desire to help the terrorist group, offering direct assistance to facilitate possible attacks on iconic locations in New York, as the memorial to the September 11 attacks, according to the prosecution.
Bridges also gave the undercover agent an Army training manual and information on combat tactics and He discussed with him ways to attack American troops in the Middle East.
Shortly before his arrest, Bridges sent the FBI agent – whom he believed to be an Islamic State sympathizer – a video in which he appeared next to a flag used by members of the terrorist group and showed his support for the organization.
A week later, prosecutors say, he sent her another video in which — with a manipulated voice — he narrated a propaganda message in favor of a possible ambush against U.S. troops.
The young man had started to consume jihadist propaganda via the Internet in 2019expressing support for ISIS on social media, before beginning to communicate with the undercover FBI agent.
