Feds Say Would-Be Jihadist US Citizen Plotted to Bomb Capitol and Pentagon with Small Drone Planes
As federal authorities were checking commercial airline passengers with controversial scanning devices and body pat-downs this year, a United States citizen with a physics degree was allegedly modifying cell phones to use with small remote-controlled drone planes filled with plastic explosives in a planned attack on the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Rezwan Ferdaus, 26, was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempts to destroy national defense premises; to damage and destroy U.S. government buildings; and to provide material support and resources to al-Qaida, reports Bloomberg.
The five- or six-foot long planes that Ferdaus allegedly planned to use in the attack are smaller versions of U.S. fighter jets, according to Gary S. Cacace, a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent who signed a complaint in the case against Ferdaus. He allegedly modified a number of cell phones so they could be used as detonators.
With the goal of terrorizing the United States, decapitating its ‘military center’ and killing as many ‘kafirs,’ i.e., an Arabic term meaning non-believers, as possible, Ferdaus extensively planned and attempted to attack the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol,” Cacace stated in the complaint.
Authorities said the public was never in danger, because federal undercover agents were monitoring Ferdaus, who was apparently brought to their attention by an individual who was working with the FBI. Ferdaus is currently being held without bail pending a hearing Monday in federal court in Worcester, Mass., reports the Boston Globe (reg.req.).
His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg.
The Associated Press and CBS News also have stories.
