The FBI has arrested a serving member of US Army over alleged plot to bomb major news network.

Jarrett William Smith, 24, who joined the army in 2017, was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly distributed information online on how to build bombs.

He is also said to have discussed Beto O'Rourke as a target and traveling to Ukraine to fight with far-right group Azov Battalion.

Smith is said to have spoken with American, Craig Lang, who fought with the Right Sector in Ukraine, allegedly telling him he 'got knowledge of IEDs for days'.

Democratic presidential candidate, former Rep. Beto ORourke exits the stage after speaking during the Democratic Polk County Steak Fry on September 21. When probed on targets in Texas, Smith allegedly replied: 'Outside of Beto?'

Smith transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas, pictured, from Fort Bliss, Texas, in July. He was arrested Saturday and charged with distributing information relating to weapons of mass destruction

He is said to have added: 'We can make cell phone IEDs in the style of the Afghans. I can teach you that.'

Lang and Smith, a private class infantry soldier, are also said to have met in person in El Paso on one occasion.

In another chat with an FBI informant in August Smith is said to have discussed an attack within America, suggesting a major news network's headquarters could be the target.

Smith is said to have written: 'A large vehicle bomb. Fill a vehicle full of [explosives] then fill a ping pong ball with [commonly available chemical] via drilling then injection. Put the ball in the tank of the vehicle and leave. 30 minutes later, BOOM.'

The Department of Justice said in a statement: 'On Aug. 19, 2019, Smith told an undercover investigator he was looking for 'radicals' like himself. Smith talked about killing members of Antifa and destroying nearby cell towers or a local news station.'

And when probed on 'anyone down in Texas that would be a good fit for fire, destruction and death' Smith, who transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas from Fort Bliss, Texas, in July, is said to have replied: 'Outside of Beto? I don't know enough people that would be relevant enough to cause a change if they died.'

Smith has been charged with distributing information relating to weapons of mass destruction.

The FBI says he admits to providing online instructions for building bombs to cause 'chaos'. He faces 20 years in prison if convicted.

In March this year authorities arrested a U.S. Army veteran who converted to Islam and discussed launching various terror attacks throughout Southern California as he plotted to bomb a white supremacist rally as retribution for the New Zealand mosque attacks.

Smith is said to have spoken with American, Craig Lang, pictured, who fought with the Right Sector in Ukraine, allegedly telling him he 'got knowledge of IEDs for days'

Volunteers in the paramilitary Azov Battalion attend an oath of allegiance ceremony at Sofiyska Square, Kiev before they leave to fight pro-Russian separatists. Smith is said to ave discussed traveling to Ukraine to fight with far-right group Azov Battalion

Mark Domingo, an infantryman who served a combat stint in Afghanistan, was arrested after visiting a park in Long Beach, Los Angeles, where authorities said he planned to plant home-made explosive devices made with nail-filled pressure cookers in advance of a Nazi rally.

The 26-year-old, who was arrested on a charge of providing material support to terrorists and plead not guilty, had allegedly been planning to 'manufacture and use a weapon of mass destruction in order to commit mass murder' since March.

That same month a US Coast Guard officer was accused of stockpiling guns and compiling a hit list of prominent Democrats and TV journalists.

Christopher Paul Hasson, 49, pleaded not guilty to drug and firearms charges. after federal prosecutors described him is a self-described white nationalist and 'domestic terrorist' who 'intends to murder innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country'.

In December last year a soldier based in Hawaii was sentenced to 25 years in prison for trying to help the Islamic State group.

Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Kang, 35, pleaded guilty in August to four counts of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He provided classified military documents, a drone and other help, he said.

'Your honor, I know what I did was wrong,' Kang said before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway imposed a sentence that includes 20 years of supervised release. 'When I'm released I won't do it again.'



