Guardsman held for offering information to al-Qaeda online

A National Guardsman was arrested and accused of trying to provide information to the al-Qaeda terrorist network, the US Army said.

Defense officials speaking on the condition of anonymity said on Thursday that Specialist Ryan Anderson, 26, signed onto extremist Internet chat rooms and tried to get in touch with al-Qaeda operatives, offering the organization information on US military capabilities and weaponry.

It is unclear how the government learned of his alleged offer, but authorities began monitoring his communications, the officials said. It does not appear he transmitted any information to al-Qaeda, the officials said.

Anderson a Muslim during the last five years, officials said.

The army's Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Barger said Anderson was being held at Fort Lewis "pending criminal charges of aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the al-Qaeda terrorist network."

Barger he was taken into custody without incident as part of a joint investigation by the Army, Justice Department and FBI. He was being held at the Fort Lewis Regional Corrections Facility near Tacoma.

Barger to give any details on the arrest, and it was not immediately clear if Anderson had a lawyer.