U.S. Soldier Planned To Join ISIS And Bomb Schofield Barracks In Honolulu, Hawaii
Ikaika Erik Kang, in a 2001 high school photo (Image Credit: AP)
Original Article | Author: Jennifer Sinco Kelleher (The Associated Press)
A Hawaii-based Army soldier was obsessed with videos depicting terrorism beheadings, suicide bombings and other violence and he watched them in his bedroom for hours every day, a confidential informant told agents who put a tracking device on the soldier's car during an investigation that led to an indictment charging him with attempting to support the Islamic State group.
An affidavit supporting the tracking device request and other newly unsealed court documents provide more details about Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Kang's alleged fixation with Islamic State group violence.
Kang told the informant if he became an Islamic State member, he would be a suicide bomber and attack Schofield Barracks, a sprawling Army base outside Honolulu, the affidavit said.
The documents were unsealed Monday.
Kang has pleaded not guilty and is being detained without bail.
The indictment and an FBI affidavit filed previously alleged that Kang met with undercover agents he believed were part of the Islamic State group. He allegedly provided them with classified military information, a drone, military equipment and training in combat fighting.
His defense attorney, Birney Bervar, said Tuesday he hadn't yet seen the unsealed documents. He said previously Kang may suffer from service-related mental health issues that the government was aware of but neglected to treat.
