US soldier sentenced to 14 years for plotting with Daesh

Cole Bridges conspired with Daesh to attack US forces, sharing military tactics before his 2021 arrest

WASHINGTON:

A US Army soldier has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to assist the Daesh in carrying out a lethal attack on American troops, the Department of Justice announced on Friday.

Cole Bridges, also known as Cole Gonzales, aged 24, will be subject to 10 years of supervised release following his prison term.

At the time of his arrest, Bridges was a private first class and was charged in 2021 for providing "military advice and guidance on how to kill fellow soldiers" to individuals he believed were affiliated with Daesh. In June 2023, Bridges pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges.

He enlisted in the Army in 2019. Prior to joining, he had begun consuming online content that promoted jihadist ideologies and violence, and expressed support for Daesh and jihad through social media, according to the Department of Justice.