US police officer charged with helping Islamic State

A Washington transit police officer has been arrested on charges that he attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State militant group.

Federal officials said that Nicholas Young, 36, sent codes for gift cards worth $245 to an FBI informant. The gift-cards were intended for mobile-messaging accounts that IS uses to recruit its followers. Court reports show that Young believed the informant he was messaging was an acquaintance who was working with IS.

His arrest marks the first time a US police officer has been charged with providing material support to a designated terrorist organisation.

Young, who had worked for the transit authority since 2003, had been on the radar of federal law enforcement since 2012. Metro authorities said that Young was fired immediately after his arrest on Wednesday.

"Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing. They're disturbing to me, and they're disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform," said Paul Wiedefeld, the general manager of the transport system.

The FBI said that Young had travelled in 2011 to Libya to fight with rebels trying to overthrow President Muammar Gaddafi. Authorities said that he had packed body armour and other military gear.

He was also allegedly an acquaintance of Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to plotting a suicide bombing at the US Capitol Building in 2012.

A spokesperson for the Eastern Virginia US Attorney’s Office said that Young did not pose a threat to Metro train riders or employees during the six years he was under federal surveillance.

"None of the things that he said, none of the things he wanted to do related to anything here. His interest was totally in how he could get overseas and what he could do over there," Joshua Stueve said.