National Guardsman and Cousin Arrested in Connection with ISIS
CHICAGO, March 26 (UPI) — A U.S. Army National Guard soldier and his cousin were arrested in Illinois for allegedly attempting to support the Islamic State, the Department of Justice said.
Chicago FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested Army National Guard Specialist Hasan Edmonds, 22, a U.S. citizen, as Chicago Midway International Airport as he attempted to travel to Cairo to join IS — also identified by the acronyms ISIS and ISIL.
His cousin, 28-year-old Jonas Edmonds, was arrested at his home in Aurora, Ill.
The two men allegedly conspired for Hasan to use his military training to fight with IS while Jonas executed an attack on a U.S. military facility in northern Illinois where Hasan had been training. Jonas allegedly asked an undercover FBI agent to help him with the attack and said they could Hasan’s uniforms.
“According to the charges filed today, the defendants allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIL and planned to travel overseas to support the terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin. “In addition, they plotted to attack members of our military within the United States. Disturbingly, one of the defendants currently wears the same uniform of those they allegedly planned to attack.”
Both men were charged with one count each of conspiring to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Should they be convicted, the each face a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
