U.S. soldier arrested for pledging allegiance to ISIS

Federal investigators arrested an active duty U.S. soldier Saturday after he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) and assisted undercover agents in what he presumed was equipping the terror group. Authorities arrested Ikaika Kang, a 34-year-old sergeant first class in the U.S. Army, in Honolulu, Hawaii. A 26-page affidavit revealed the Army suspected Kang was becoming radicalized in 2016 and asked the FBI to investigate. Army officials revoked Kang’s military clearance in 2012 when he made pro-Islamic State comments but reinstated it a year later, after he completed military requirements. The affidavit said Kang made combat training videos with undercover agents and believed the videos would be sent to the Middle East to help prepare ISIS soldiers to fight American forces. Prior to his arrest, Kang and an undercover agent split the $1,400 cost for a drone, Go-Pro camera, and related equipment. The FBI agents eventually arrested him after he pledged loyalty to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and said he wanted to “take his rifle, his magazines, and kill ‘a bunch of people.’” Paul Delacourt, the FBI agent heading the Hawaii bureau, said Kang gave some military documents to people he thought would send them to ISIS, but they never did. Delacourt also claimed Kang was a lone actor not affiliated with anyone else who poses a threat. Kang enlisted in the Army in December 2001 and served in South Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan.