Springfield Xd .40

US soldier accused of planning bomb attack on Texas restaurant

HOUSTON (BNO NEWS) -- A U.S. soldier has been arrested and charged in relation to allegations that he possessed an explosive device which he intended to use to bomb a restaurant frequented by soldiers from Fort Hood, prosecutors said on Friday.

Naser Jason Abdo, 21, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon at a Killeen, Texas hotel on a warrant charging him with Possession of Obscene Material and Absent Without Leave (AWOL). He was charged on Friday with one federal count of possession of an unregistered destructive device.

According to the criminal complaint, Abdo made statements to the arresting officers that he intended to conduct an attack against Killeen and Fort Hood, a military post nearby. He also indicated in response to questioning that there were explosives in the backpack he was carrying and in his room.

"The backpack being carried by Naser Jason Abdo was searched," said Special Agent James Runkel of the FBI in the criminal complaint. "Some of the items found inside the backpack searched by the officers were as follows: two clocks; two pools of auto wire; Winchester .40 caliber ammunition; Springfield .40 caliber handgun, model XD."

Also included in the backpack was an article entitled 'Make a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom' and a handwritten list in a composition notebook which included items described as 'red black green wire', '160 gunpowder' and '1 small box of shotgun shells'.

An FBI bomb technician later confirmed that the items found in Abdo's hotel room can be used to construct a destructive device. "Other FBI personnel interviewed Naser Jason Abdo on July 27, 2011, subsequent to his arrest by the Killeen Police Department," Runkel wrote. "Affiant learned from the FBI personnel that Naser Jason Abdo admitted that he planned to assemble two bombs in the hotel room using gun powder and shrapnel packed into pressure cookers to detonate them inside an unspecified restaurant frequented by soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas."

As a result, Abdo has been charged in federal court with possession of an unregistered destructive device and, if convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

Fort Hood has been targeted previously. In November 2009, 13 people were killed and 29 others were injured when Major Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire at the military post. Hasan survived the killing spree and has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder.

(Copyright 2011 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.

Springfield XD 40 4" vs 5" - XDTalk Forums - Your XD/XD(m ...

For Home Defense, get a gun light and not a laser. You want to be able to ID the target and what's behind it. A laser shows you where the bullet will hit, NOT what the target is. It's a real bummer to shoot a spouse that got up to go pee or get a glass of water, etc. The gun light will also help reduce muzzle flip due to the weight out front. I have an XD 40 Tactical and it is the best handgun I've ever owned (after a PRP trigger kit). It is great on the nightstand and at the range.....and I CCW it everyday IWB in a Crossbreed Supertuck. I can't tell the difference between the service and a Tactical once its in the holster so don't think you can't carry a 5" if want to at some point. Obviously we don't want to confuse you. A 5" gun is a great nightstand weapon or CCW gun for some of us crazies. If you forced me to make a specific recommendation, I'd tell you to go with the 4" service model. It is a great gun and can easily fit into many niches you want it to in the future. Right now you may think you just want a gun on your nightstand but once you have become proficient with whatever you end up buying your needs and requirements could change. The 4" service can readily wear more "hats" than the other model for most people. My post waxing poetic about the Tactical is colored by my personal love for the gun. The best thing you can do is go to a shop that has both and hold them. Really look at them and feel them and see which one seems right to you. If one doesn't stand out and beg you to keep it and all things are equal, the safe bet is with the 4" service. Either way, if it has XD stamped on the side of it, I'm sure you will be happy with it. Don't be afraid of picking the wrong one. I had an 3" XD subcompact and wanted to trade it in for a Service. I ended up finding a used Tactical that I absolutely couldn't say no to and was able to trade the Subcompact straight-up for it. You mentioned this was your first gun. Let me be the first to tell you that guns can come and go. There is a huge used market for handguns full of quality pieces that will out-live you and your children. So once again, don't afraid that you are going to buy the wrong one. Also, like another person mentioned, make sure you have a flashlight in tandem with your nightstand gun. I only have a laser mounted on mine (a Crimson Trace) so that I can holster it but there is always a flashlight right beside it on the nighstand.

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