AWOL soldier sought martyrdom

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WACO, Texas, May 23 (UPI) -- An AWOL soldier angry about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan told investigators he went to Texas to "martyr himself," an FBI agent testified.

Special Agent Charles Michael Owens told a federal court in Waco, Texas, that during questioning he learned Pfc. Naser Abdo, 22, traveled to Texas to bomb a Chinese restaurant popular with Fort Hood soldiers, the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman reported Wednesday.

Abdo is on trial on nine charges including possession of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder.

Owens told the court after his arrest Abdo referred to potential civilian casualties in his planned restaurant attack as "collateral damage" and said he intended to disguise his bomb in a gift box and just leave it in the restaurant.

Abdo's attorney Zachary Boyd said his client never built a bomb and the items he purchased were lawful things.

Police found pressure cookers, clocks and electrical wire in Abdo's backpack along with an al-Qaida magazine when he was arrested July 27 just outside Ford Hood at a Killen, Texas, motel.