UPDATE 12:45pm: Fort Hood officials have released information from the Department of the Army’s Public Affairs office about the Soldier arrested near Fort Hood yesterday.
“Private 1st Class Naser J. Abdo, age 21, was arrested on July 27. The Killeen Police Department is handling all information requests. The incident occurred in the Killeen community. U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, the KPD, and the FBI are involved in the ongoing investigation. In June 2010, he submitted a Conscientious Objector packet that was approved in May 2011. The discharge was placed on hold pending disposition of charges of possession of child pornography that were preferred on May 13. His Article 32 hearing was completed June 15, and the investigating officer recommended referral of the charge to trial by General Court-Martial. On July 4, the Soldier’s status changed from present for duty to AWOL. Since he is in the custody of civilian authorities, jurisdiction over any potential new charges is yet to be determined. If returned to military control, he may face additional charges including AWOL.
The Army lists Abdo as an infantryman who’s been stationed at Fort Campbell since July 2009.
UPDATE 3:32 p.m. US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison released the following statement:
“I know that all Texans -- and Americans – are proud of the Killeen community and the Killeen Police Department for their vigilance and their quick response that led to the arrest of an AWOL soldier. His arrest is a perfect example of how alert citizens and dedicated law enforcement personnel can work together to prevent a potential terrorist attack in our own backyard.”
EARLIER: Killeen police arrested a soldier near Fort Hood yesterday afternoon. Fox News reports that the soldier had bomb-making equipment in his car. Authorities at Fort Hood say the soldier wasn't stationed there.
Pvt. Nasser Jason Abdo, an AWOL soldier from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was arrested by the Killeen Police Department near Fort Hood and remains in custody there. Authorities, however, will not say if Abdo is the one who raised security concerns. Abdo was allegedly found with weapons and explosives at the time of his arrest, a senior Army source confirms to Fox News. He was arrested at around 2 p.m. Wednesday after someone called authorities to report a suspicious individual.
The Killeen Daily Herald says the man was arrested on a warrant related to child pornography.
In a written statement, officials at the world's largest U.S. Army installation say they are keeping their force protection at "appropriate levels."
