US soldier arrested for attempting to train Islamic State fighters

July 11 (UPI) – An active duty U.S. soldier in Hawaii with the highest combat level training in the Army was arrested for providing material support for Islamic State.

The FBI used a SWAT team to take in Sgt. Ikaika Erik Kang, 34, an air traffic control operator with the 25th Infantry Division at U.S. Army Pacific Command on Saturday. They charged him with “attempting to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.”

“A probable cause arrest was made in the interest of public safety,” said Honolulu FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul D. Delacourt. “We believe that Kang was a lone actor and was not associated with others who present a threat to Hawaii.”

According to the criminal complaint, Kang provided “material support to [Islamic State] by providing both classified military documents, and other sensitive but unclassified military documents, to persons he believed would pass the documents to [Islamic State].”

The complaint says Kang used his high-level combat training and mixed-martial arts experience to train a person he believed to be a member of Islamic State and videotaping the sessions “so they could be used by [Islamic State] to train other fighters” and helped pay for a drone he believed would be used by Islamic State.

He also told an undercover FBI agent that he wanted to join Islamic State.

“People still say it’s illegal to join them, but the way I look at it is they’re just fighting people who are committing genocide there,” Kang said, according to the complaint. “I’m just going to go there…and fight these guys who are committing genocide.”

The Department of Defense said Kang was a highly decorated soldier who had received several commendations, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal, reported Hawaii News Now.

Kang deployed to Iraq from March 2010 to February 2011, and to Afghanistan from July 2013 to April 2014.

The FBI complaint says Kang “was becoming radicalized” in early 2016. He expressed more interest in Islam, “anti-government topics,” and Islamic State. The Army alerted him to the FBI, which sent an undercover agent to make contact with him. Kang and the undercover agent had several discussions and Kang once told him that the only terrorist organization in the world is the United States. He also told the undercover that “Hitler was right, saying he believed in the mass killing of Jews.”

After his arrest, the FBI says that Kang admitted to wanting “to help the Islamic State as early as late 2015, because he saw how ill-equipped they were for the fight.”

Kang’s attorney, Birney Bervar, told NBC News that Kang, “may have some service-related mental health issues which the government was aware of but neglected to treat.”

He had been reprimanded by the Army before in 2012 for “threatening to hurt or kill other service members, and for arguing pro-ISIS views while at work and on-post.”

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Nicole Kanjere with size H cup breasts launches Mymilla plus size lingerie company

A woman who couldn’t find a bra big enough for her H cup cleavage has launched her own business targeting women with Britain’s biggest breasts.

Nicole Kanjere, 23, from Croydon, admits she has spent her life battling to find a bra that not only fitted properly but also made her feel glamorous. 

She said: ‘All my life I could never find matching knickers and bras that fitted. The bras I did find were poorly made, never fit me properly and out of date trend wise – always in ugly white jersey or black. 

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Nicole Kanjere, 23, was inspired to start her own plus size bra company after failing to find glamorous and comfortable lingerie to fit her H-cup breasts

‘In fact things were so bad I was bullied because of my breast size. Around the age of 15 I was a D- cup and by the age I was 18 I was an H-cup. 

‘When you are a teenager with large breasts and no proper fitting bra you become a target and naturally I was embarrassed because of my chest size. 

‘I was an easy target for girls and boys who liked to pick on anyone who was the slightest bit different.’

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Even as a teen Nicole knew she wasn’t alone. ‘I’d see other girls with large breasts being targeted and walking down the street. Or I’d see women who were plus size with large breasts clearly not wearing a bra because they couldn’t get one or couldn’t afford one. 

‘I guess even way back then my business idea was born,’ explains Nicole. 

‘I realised that I’d spent a fortune on bras that didn’t fit me. Instead of enhancing my shape and making me look good in T-shirts and tops they simply drew unwanted attention to my chest.’

Nicole studied business at university and was inspired to set up Mymilla by her own problems finding bras that fit

She added that she was a size 12 on her bottom and couldn’t find bra and knicker sets that matched.   

After studying business and human resources at university she decided to do something about it, especially after researching the issue and discovering that the average British breast size was the biggest in Europe, having risen from a C to a DD cup. 

Nicole is only 23 but her business’s profits are growing 100 per cent month on month

The budding entrepreneur learnt British women’s breasts are the biggest average size, even ahead of the USA market, and that the market was worth a staggering £1.2 billion a year.

Nicole became inspired by other women who couldn’t get a proper bra. 

She said: ‘I decided to set up my own business offering women affordable and luxury bras and lingerie for big breasts. 

‘I also wanted to ensure that no matter what size they are down below some women can wear size 10 knickers and a J bra but still get proper sets.

‘I wanted to set up a business that was my own and that I was passionate about and I knew if I couldn’t find a bra then thousands of other women were in the same position. I knew there was a business in big breasts,’ she explains.

Nicole applied to the Princes Trust and was put on their Enterprise Course. After that she presented her business idea to a panel and was accepted.

‘They offered me business support for two years, a business mentor and access to workshops,’ she explains.

Nicole spent hundreds of hours researching designers, brands currently available on the market and finding bras and knickers in the £16.90 to £42 price range.

Then last year Nicole launched her bra business Mymilla offering bras made from all the different types available up to a size 42J and knickers that matched in a thong, briefs and boxer style to size 22 or 3XL.

Her company is based around a body positive image and she refuses to use airbrushing in any of her shoots.

Tinar Dandajena, a former Miss Curvaceous contestant, is one of the real women who models Nicole’s bras

Plus size blogger Rosie Astbury was also happy to strip off for the pictures which are not retouched

‘I also stock bras in specific materials in an M-Cup and if women have breasts bigger than that I can have bras specially made,’ says Nicole.

She said she was overwhelmed by the response to the range.

‘Women were thrilled to be able to buy sexy bras, cute bras and bras that actually fitted no matter what size they are,’ she said.

‘Women who were tiny on the bottom but big on top were relieved to find me and women who were plus size all over were thrilled to have a choice of bras and knickers that matched.’

She says that business has increased by 100 per cent month on month and she’s launched a service where she goes to women’s houses to do fittings. 

‘There are so many plus size women who are scared to go out because of bullying and teasing. For them to finally get a bra that fits and contains their breasts and gives them form and comfort is life changing,’ she said.

Among the women who model for Nicole’s company is plus size blogger Rosie Astbury. At 5ft 2ins Rosie is a size 20 and a fashion design graduate.

Tinar and Rosie appear in ads for the range that are designed specifically for bigger breasted women

Rosie says: ‘When I started fashion design school people could not understand why a plus size girl would want to do a fashion course. I wanted to prove that the plus size market was to be taken seriously and would soon be worth millions.

‘I admit I am naturally fat – I eat normally and I understand the plus and negative side of obesity. I am used to stares and comments and so when Nicole asked me to model her bra and knickers I said, “absolutely I am there for you”.

‘Like Nicole I have always had problems buying nice bra and knickers. I am short and not your typical model but I felt showing other women my plus size body would inspire them to try a sexy bra ad knicker set and prove that real women deserve nice lingerie no matter what size.’

According to Rosie when she learnt what Nicole was aiming to achieve she was only too willing to lend her support and body.

‘I know from personal experience if other big women of different shapes and sizes see women of their shape and size wearing the clothes they will feel more confident about buying them and wearing them. 

Rosie has been blogging about plus size fashion since she was 16 and says it helped her come to terms with being ‘a big girl’

If by showing off my body I can help one woman finally get a bra that fits I will have done my job,’ says Rosie, who says she loves modelling for Nicole’s company.

‘I am proud of my size and body and showing other women that inspires them to try the bra and knickers and try the outfits.’

Nicole is determined to give women with large breasts confidence to wear the clothes they want

Rosie started blogging about plus size fashion when she was 16 and this year has celebrated six years of showing ladies up to a size 32 how to look on trend. ‘Blogging helped me come to terms with being a big girl and being proud of my size and look.’

Tinar Dandajena, 29,  from Coventry, also models for Nicole. ‘I totally support what Nicole is trying to do. I know what other customers go through and a size 18 and 5 ft 10ins being able to buy bras and knickers that match and fit properly is great.

Tinar, who came second in Miss Curvaceous 2015, says she’s lent her support to Nicole’s campaign to raise awareness because the company is body positive and doesn’t discriminate. 

As for Rosie she says: ‘Nicole’s business and my blog is empowering big women to be proud and take pride in what they wear and if stripping down to my bra and knickers is what I have to do to inspire other women well that’s what I do. I live what I write.’

Nicole is now sourcing baby doll lingerie and suspenders for plus size women. She has a huge demand for plus size bikinis and swimwear and plans on designing her own bra and knicker range once the business is more established.

‘I have had amazing support from women all over the country and especially since I have started using real women of different shapes, sizes and heights it shows customers I respect their size and understand personally what it’s like to have big breasts and battle to get a bra that fits and looks and feels great.

‘Britain’s breasts are growing and my business is growing with it.’

 

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