03:11 PM PST on Thursday, February 12, 2004

KING5.com Staff Reports

KING5.com

SEATTLE - A member of the Washington National Guard’s 81st Armored Brigade has been taken into custody and charged with attempting to pass intelligence information to the Al-Qaida terrorist network.

According to an NBC news report, SPC. Ryan G. Anderson was arrested Thursday at Fort Lewis, Wash. The report, citing U.S. Military and Justice Department officials, said Anderson, a 26-year-old tank crew member, was caught during a joint sting operation and has been charged with “aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the Al-Quida terrorist network."

It's not known what information Anderson allegedly provided.

Ryan graduated in 1995 from Cascade High School in Everett, Wash., and received a degree in history from Washington State University in 2002. According to published reports, Anderson converted to the Muslim faith 5 years ago.

Anderson was interviewed by the Everett Herald newspaper last week during a ceremony to honor the 3,500 Washington National Guard soldiers who will be going to Iraq for at least a year. According to the newspaper, he felt the tour of duty would be an interesting experience.