US man arrested for plotting attack on military base

Washington, April 11 (IANS/EFE) An American man who was allegedly plotting a suicide attack at a military base in US' Kansas state has been arrested, authorities said.

John.T. Booker Jr., 20, from Topeka, Kansas was arrested on Friday and charged with three counts -- attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to damage property by means of an explosive, and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State (IS) terror group -- the US Justice Department said in a statement.

According to the statement, Booker chose the Fort Riley military base near the city of Manhattan because "the post is famous and there are a lot of soldiers stationed there".

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents arrested him and discovered that the bomb was inert.

Booker was detained "as he completed his final preparations to detonate a vehicle bomb targeting the US military personnel," it said.

According to the complaint, Booker told another person "that detonating a suicide bomb is his number one aspiration because he could not be captured, all evidence would be destroyed, and he would be guaranteed to hit his target".

The defendant would face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted, the statement added.

--IANS/EFE

ksk/pku/pgh/