Man charged with plotting bomb attack at US military base

NEW YORK

A U.S. federal court has charged a suspect with plotting a suicide attack at a military base on behalf of Daesh, officials said Friday.

John T. Booker Jr, 20, was arrested Friday morning as he prepared to detonate a car bomb at the Fort Riley base near Manhattan, Kansas, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Booker allegedly spent months discussing multiple plans before deciding on a suicide bombing mission, according to court documents. 

The complaint alleges he told another person “that detonating a suicide bomb is his number one aspiration because he couldn’t be captured, all evidence would be destroyed, and he would be guaranteed to hit his target.” 

He was arrested as part of an FBI investigation, and the device used was a fake, the statement said.

"Protecting American lives by identifying and bringing to justice those who wish to harm U.S. citizens remains the National Security Division’s number one priority,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin said.

Booker previously tried to join to the Army, but he was denied entry because of questionable Facebook posts.

"Getting ready to be killed in jihad is a HUGE adrenaline rush!! I am so nervous," he wrote in one such post.

The complaint alleges Booker chose the Fort Riley base as a good target “because the post is famous and there are a lot of soldiers stationed there."

Booker is expected to make an initial appearance Friday afternoon before a federal court in Kansas.

If convicted, he will face life sentence.