Cole Bridges, a 24-year-old US Army soldier, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison following his guilty plea to terrorism charges. In June 2023, Bridges admitted to attempting to

assist the Islamic State (IS) in attacking US military personnel.

Bridges, who joined the Army about five years ago and served as a cavalry scout with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, had begun consuming pro-terrorist propaganda before his military service. According to federal prosecutors in Manhattan, he expressed support for IS and jihadist causes on social media.

In October 2020, Bridges began communicating with someone he believed to be an IS supporter. However, the individual was actually an undercover FBI agent. Bridges conveyed his frustration with the US military and expressed a desire to assist IS in their efforts.

Over time, Bridges provided the undercover agent with tactical advice and information, including parts of a US Army training manual and combat techniques, with the belief that the materials would be used by IS in future attacks. He also advised on potential targets in New York City and how to defend IS strongholds from US forces.

In December 2020, Bridges shared instructions on how IS fighters could attack US troops in the Middle East, including advice on rigging buildings with explosives. He also recorded a video of himself wearing military gear and standing in front of a flag commonly used by IS, signaling his support for the group. In a separate video, he delivered a propaganda speech, using a voice manipulator, in support of an anticipated IS attack on US troops.

Following his prison sentence, Bridges will face 10 years of supervised release. Damian Williams, the US Attorney for Manhattan, condemned Bridges’ actions, stating, “Cole Bridges used his US Army training to pursue a horrifying goal: the brutal murder of his fellow service members… This is a betrayal of the worst order.” Photo by Mirwais Bezhan (VOA), Wikimedia commons.