Massachusetts Man Charged in Plot to Bomb Pentagon, Capitol in 'Jihad'
A Massachusetts man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly plotting to destroy the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol with an aircraft and explosives.
According to Fox News, Rezwan Ferdaus, of Ashland, Mass., was arrested in Framingham when undercover federal agents delivered materials he had requested for his alleged plan.
The 26- year-old intended on using a large remote controlled aircraft filled with explosives, and had requested six machine guns and what he believed was C-4 explosive, generally a form of plastic explosive, according to officials. He is reported to have also targeted U.S. soldiers.
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According to the federal affidavit, Ferdaus began planning "jihad" against the U.S. in early 2010. He allegedly believed he would have a large psychological impact by killing Americans, whom he described as "enemies of Allah."
The U.S. citizen and Northeastern University graduate, was scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester Wednesday afternoon.
In May, Ferdaus traveled from Boston to Washington, D.C., to take photos of the Pentagon and Capitol for surveillance. He planned to launch the C-4-filled aircraft from sites at the East Potomac Park, authorities allege, and an F-86 Sabre remote-controlled aircraft was delivered to Ferdaus' storage facility in August.
He also supplied eight mobile phones to undercover FBI agents whom he thought were recruiters for al-Qaida, authorities said. The phones were modified to be used as electrical switches for IEDs.
According to Federal authorities, the public was never in danger from the explosives, as undercover agents monitored the alleged plot and kept up frequent contact with Ferdaus. More than 30 federal, state and local agencies in the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force worked together in the operation, including Massachusetts police departments in Worcester, Ashland and Framingham.
Ferdaus faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted, of providing material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, and up to 20 years for a charge of attempting to destroy national defense premises. He also faces a five-year minimum mandatory prison sentence and up to 20 years if convicted of attempting to damage and destroy U.S.-owned buildings with explosives.
