Federal authorities arrested a New Jersey man on Wednesday, claiming he sought to join a terror group after being radicalized online and posted an Instagram poll asking his followers if he should “bomb Trump Tower."

Jonathan Xie, 20, faces charges of attempting to provide support to a designated terrorist group, making false statements and transmitting threats, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.

Authorities claim the Basking Ridge resident corresponded with members of Hamas, a Palestinian fundamentalist group considered a terror organization by United States, eventually wiring the group $100 and bragging about it on social media.

In April, he allegedly appeared in one Instagram video wearing a black ski mask saying he intended to go to a pro-Israel march and “to shoot everybody,” authorities claim.

FBI surveillance later captured images of him outside of Trump Tower in New York, where he is accused of posting a photo of the building alongside the text, “I want to bomb Trump Tower."

A criminal complaint filed in federal court on Tuesday depicts a young man who recently adopted a radical interpretation of Islam and openly discussed on social media his plans to join the cause of a variety of groups considered terror organizations by the U.S.

The behavior alleged by authorities does not speak to a methodical terror plot but instead an isolated individual acting out practically in plain sight.

The 2017 Ridge High School yearbook includes this photo of Jonathan Xie, who was arrested by federal authorities Wednesday.

Xie repeatedly declared he did not “give a shit” if he was arrested or killed and joked with an undercover FBI operative that he wired money to the terror group because using the crypto-currency Bitcoin was “too confusing lol,” according to the documents.

While he railed online against America and Israel, federal prosecutors claim Xie also sought to join the U.S. military “to learn how to kill.”

He also allegedly openly mused about another potential terror target: Coachella, the popular California music festival.

In a statement announcing the arrest, Carpenito called Xie a “homegrown violent extremist” whose actions and statements online presented a threat “both clear and present.” The U.S. attorney credited law enforcement for intervening “before he could carry out his plans to commit violence on American soil.”

Investigator leave the parents home with computers.. Jonathan Xie, 20, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, was arrested this morning and is charged with two counts of attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, two counts of making false statements, and one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, in Basking Ridge , N.J., Wednesday, May, 22, 2019Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

Federal authorities were active Wednesday afternoon at the home of Xie’s parents in Basking Ridge, an affluent Somerset County suburb. A yearbook photo from Ridge High School’s 2017 class shows Xie smiling slightly above a quote from comedian Mel Brooks:

“Hope for the best, expect the worst.”

As officials in uniforms carried boxes from the house and news helicopters circled overhead, neighbors who gathered to watch the scene unfold said they were puzzled by the accusations against Xie, whom they described as “normal.”

An FBI official at the scene declined to comment.

Twenty-five miles away in Newark, Xie appeared solemnly in front of Judge Mark Falk in federal court, wearing a green T-shirt, black sweatpants and sneakers, his wrists shackled to a chain around his waist.

He did not speak other than to say, “yes, sir” in response to questions from the judge, who later ordered him held pending a potential bail hearing. If convicted, authorities say, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Authorities say Xie first drew their attention in January when an unidentified person “who interacts online” with him tipped them off about his activity on social media and in group chats.

An excerpt from a federal criminal complaint contains an alleged transcript of Xie's posts about joining the army "to learn how to kill."

In a February exchange on Instagram, Xie allegedly announced plans to join the Army “to learn how to kill” and wondered whether “I should do a lone wolf.”

“I don’t give a shit,” he allegedly responded to someone asking whether he would get arrested. “I am political soldier. I am not afraid to die. So that I can carry out something in the future.”

It was more than idle talk, authorities claim.

Days earlier, Xie had completed a security clearance application in order to join the Army. In response to a question on the application regarding whether he had ever “associated with anyone involved in activities to further terrorism," authorities say, Xie responded “no.”

In a March post on Instagram, according to the complaint, Xie asked, “How can you fight against your oppressors without using violence?”

“I do not want to compromise with these people,” he allegedly wrote. “If they say Im a terrorist, then I am proud to become a terrorist.”

Around November of last year, the complaint alleges, Xie began pursuing an interest in Al-Qassam Brigades, a Hamas faction connected with numerous suicide bombings and other attacks.

“I was wondering if non-Palestinians/ non-Arabs would be allowed to join the Al-Qassam Brigades, and if so, what are the qualifications and how do you start the process of joining?” he allegedly wrote to an email address associated with the organization.

The document includes screenshots of a Moneygram transaction allegedly showing he wired $100 to the organization.

“Pretty sure it was illegal but I don’t give a damn,” he allegedly announced on Instagram.

In April, authorities allege, Xie appeared in an Instagram live video wearing the ski mask and brandishing a handgun determined to be registered in his father’s name. In the video, authorities say Xie decried “Zionism” and “the neo-liberal establishment” and displayed a Hamas flag.

In a separate instance, Xie was allegedly spotted outside Trump Tower in Manhattan on April 20 by FBI investigators. Around the same time, authorities claim he posted a series of images of the building on Instagram.

The first was superimposed with the text “I want to bomb Trump Tower.” The second was a poll with the question “should I bomb Trump Tower” with a bomb emoji displayed over the building, authorities allege.

An excerpt from a federal criminal complaint details alleged social media posts in which Xie mused about bombing Trump tower.

One person asked whether Xie was on an “FBI watchlist,” according to the complaint. Another commented Xie was “doing his typical terrorist bs again.”

“Donald Trump, he should be hung from the gallows!” Xie allegedly responded. “Okay so I went to NYC today and passed by Trump Tower, then I started thinking about bombing it and I was imagining that the explosion would kill Trump and then I started laughing hysterically... shit I forgot to visit the israeli embassy in NYC...i want to bomb this place along with trump tower.”

Days later, authorities claim, Xie mused on Instagram about shooting “pro-israel demonstrators” and said you don’t need “martial arts to fight” when you can use a gun or “use a vehicle and ram people.”

He had other targets in mind, authorities claim.

“Someone needs to get a truck filled with explosives and blow up the Coachella event,” he allegedly said in another post, referring to the music festival. “Watch their blood and dead bodies litter the streets.”

He faces two counts of attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, two counts of making false statements and one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.

READ THE COMPLAINT:

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter.

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