American Cousins Plotted to Attack Military Facility, Join Islamic State, Feds Say

Federal authorities filed a criminal complaint this week claiming that two American cousins have been arrested for reportedly plotting to attack a military facility in Illinois and fly to the Middle East to aid the Islamic State terror group.

Federal authorities confirmed Thursday that one of the cousins, Hasan Edmonds, a specialist for the Army National Guard, had been arrested Wednesday evening at Midway Airport in Chicago, Illinois as he attempted to board a flight to Egypt, where authorities believe he was going to fight with the Islamic State terror group.

The other cousin, Jonas Edmonds, was arrested for allegedly plotting to attack an undisclosed military facility in northern Illinois after his cousin's departure. Jonas Edmonds reportedly planned to use Hasan's status as a member of the National Guard to gain access to the facility and attack soldiers.

The two men were arrested after they met with an undercover FBI agent posing as an Islamic Sate sympathizer. According to the Chicago Tribune, Hasan Edmonds wrote to the undercover agent via Facebook, suggesting that the defeat the U.S., the terrorists must "defeat their spirits."

"With the U.S. no matter how many you kill they will keep coming unless the soldiers and the American public no longer have the will to fight," Edmonds wrote, according to the Chicago Tribune. "If we can break their spirits we will win."

Hassan added in a Facebook message that he hoped to join the terrorist group overseas. 

"I look forward to the training. I am already in the american kafir [infidel] army [...] and now I wish only to serve in the army of Allah alongside my true brothers."

According to the Associated Press, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner said in a statement that he had been briefed on the involvement of a National Guard members in the alleged attack plot.

"On behalf of all citizens of Illinois, I thank all the members of our National Guard as well as the FBI for protecting our state and defending our country," Rauner said in the brief statement.

As CBS News reports, National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Brad Leighton said in a statement that specifics could not be discussed as the investigation into the cousins' plans is ongoing.

"We have remained in communication with federal authorities throughout the process, which culminated in the arrest by federal officers of Hasan Rasheed Edmonds last night. The Illinois National Guard plays a vital role in helping our neighbors, protecting our state and defending our nation. We are proud of the tremendous service and sacrifice our Soldiers, Airmen, and their Families have made since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. We will not let this incident detract us from fulfilling our missions as proud National Guard Citizen Soldiers," he said in an email to the media outlet.