Authorities say the defendant, a citizen of Albania, was planning to join the contact's fighting group, which had killed American troops. - Photo by Reuters

NEW YORK: A New York City resident has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization by plotting to travel to Pakistan to join a radical fighting group.

Agron Hasbajrami was charged in an indictment unsealed Friday in federal court in Brooklyn. The indictment said he had exchanged email messages with a contact in Pakistan and expressed a desire to die as a martyr.

Authorities say the defendant, a citizen of Albania, was planning to join the contact's fighting group, which had killed American troops.

Authorities say he was arrested Tuesday at Kennedy International Airport when he arrived to board a flight to Turkey.

They say he was carrying a tent, boots and cold-weather gear. He's scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.