US soldier indicted on terrorism charges, links with Islamic State

The FBI said in their criminal complaint that army sergeant Ikaika Kang wanted to commit a mass shooting after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State.

A federal grand jury in Hawaii has indicted a US soldier for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group.

A US army sergeant has been indicted over his alleged links with the Islamic State. (AFP / Representational Photo)

Army Sgt 1st Class Ikaika Kang was indicted on Friday after he was arrested by an FBI SWAT team on July 8. Kang was ordered held without bail.

The FBI said in their criminal complaint that Kang wanted to commit a mass shooting after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Because of the indictment, Kang will no longer have a preliminary hearing that was scheduled for Monday.

Kang’s court-appointed attorney Birney Bervar said after his detention hearing that he will ask for a mental health evaluation.

Bervar said his client may suffer from service-related mental health issues of which the government was aware but neglected to treat.