This story was first published on July 5 at 12:39 p.m. EST.
McLEAN, Va. — A former National Guard soldier has been charged with plotting to help the Islamic State group and contemplating a Fort Hood-style attack against the U.S. military.
Twenty-six-year-old Mohamed Jalloh of Sterling, Virginia, is expected to make an initial appearance Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria.
Court records made public Tuesday indicate Jalloh is a former member of the Army National Guard who says he quit after hearing lectures from radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.
Jalloh served in the Virginia National Guard from April 30, 2009, to April 29, 2015. He was a specialist when he separated with an honorable discharge, according to information provided by the Virginia Guard. A combat engineer, Jalloh was in the 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command. There is no record of Jalloh deploying or serving on federal active duty during his time with the Guard, officials said.
A court affidavit spells out a three-month sting operation in which Jalloh said he was thinking about carrying out an attack similar to the 2009 shootings at Fort Hood, which left 13 people dead.
Court records indicate the FBI saw Jalloh purchase an assault rifle Saturday.
Jalloh's sister, Fatmatu Jalloh, said she hadn't seen the charge against her brother but denied he would be helping ISIS.
