Jason Abdo, former AWOL soldier, sentenced in Ft. Hood bomb plot
A federal judge in Waco, Texas, sentenced a former soldier to two consecutive life sentences, plus 60 years in prison, on Friday for plotting to bomb and shoot Ft. Hood soldiers last year.
Pfc. Naser Jason Abdo, 22, who represented himself after dismissing his court-appointed lawyers, told U.S. District Judge Walter Smith that he remained committed as a Muslim to pursuing a holy war.
“I have continued to answer the call of jihad and will continue to the day I am called to account for my deeds,” he said, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Abdo appeared defiant throughout the hearing, speaking in Arabic at times and translating for the court, federal prosecutors said. Abdo said he was motivated by what he called crimes committed by the U.S. and its military against Muslims.
He said he had tried to outdo Maj. Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of fatally shooting 13 people at Ft. Hood in 2009.
“He intended to continue to do what he was doing; he was regretful he hadn’t succeeded as his brother Nidal had succeeded,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. Mark Frazier. “He asked the judge not to show him any mercy because only Allah can show him mercy.”