A police officer in Washington
was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to aid the Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) after a seven-year investigation.
Nicholas Young, 36, was the first US police officer arrested in connection with Isil.
He first drew the attention of the FBI in 2009 when colleagues reported suspicious activity, and had been under surveillance for several years.
Young was a transit officer, responsible for patrolling the underground and bus systems of the US capital. A spokesman for Washington's transport system, known as Metro, said he has now been fired.
Nicholas Young, 36, was the first US police officer arrested in connection with Isil.
He first drew the attention of the FBI in 2009 when colleagues reported suspicious activity, and had been under surveillance for several years.
Young was a transit officer, responsible for patrolling the underground and bus systems of the US capital. A spokesman for Washington's transport system, known as Metro, said he has now been fired.
His arrest came after he bought
$250 worth of gift cards for mobile messaging apps - a popular form of
communication for the terrorist group - with the intention of aiding
Isil overseas, prosecutors said.
Documents show he travelled to Libya twice in 2011, and said he had joined rebel forces attempting to drive Moammar Gaddafi from power.
Joshua Stueve, a spokesman in the prosecutor's office, said Young posed no threat to the Washington's transport system, known as Metro.
Paul Wiedefeld, the Metro general manager, called the charges "disturbing".
Documents show he travelled to Libya twice in 2011, and said he had joined rebel forces attempting to drive Moammar Gaddafi from power.
Joshua Stueve, a spokesman in the prosecutor's office, said Young posed no threat to the Washington's transport system, known as Metro.
Paul Wiedefeld, the Metro general manager, called the charges "disturbing".
"Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing.
They're disturbing to me, and they're disturbing to everyone who wears
the uniform," he said in a statement.
Court filings show Young, a convert to Islam, had been linked to two other individuals charged with terrorism offences.
He met regularly with Amine El Khalifi, who was caught in a sting operation in which he planned to bomb the US Capitol building, according to the documents.
Court filings show Young, a convert to Islam, had been linked to two other individuals charged with terrorism offences.
He met regularly with Amine El Khalifi, who was caught in a sting operation in which he planned to bomb the US Capitol building, according to the documents.
An undercover FBI informant met with Young approximately 20 times during the course of the investigation.
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