A Massachusetts man plotted with undercover FBI agents he thought were al Qaeda operatives to attack the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon, according to federal prosecutors. Rezwan Ferdaus, 26, was charged Wednesday in federal court in Boston with aiding terrorists. Ferdaus, of Ashland, Mass., traveled to the District to conduct surveillance on the sites, planned the attacks and obtained materials to carry them out, according to a criminal complaint.
The 42-page complaint details conversations Ferdaus allegedly had over the past year with people he believed were al Qaeda recruiters and his efforts to prepare for the attacks.
Ferdaus’ attorney could not be reached for comment.
The Justice Department said the public was never in danger because the FBI agents were monitoring the explosive devices.
Ferdaus began by modifying mobile phones so they could act as electrical switches for improvised explosive devices, according to the complaint. He gave those devices to the undercover agents, and was pleased when the agents later told him the devices were used to kill three U.S. soldiers overseas, and wound others, the complaint says.
Ferdaus later began talking with the agents about his intentions to attack the Pentagon and Capitol. He is accused of telling a witness that “it would be nice to … gun down some politicians.” His plan, according to court documents, was to use remote-controlled airplanes filled with 16 explosives each to strike the buildings.
“My plan is to have a fast model airplane with a GPS system stuffed with handhelds and it’s on a timer and it … has the coordinates of the targets,” he allegedly told an undercover agent. “All it has to do is crash into the target.”
In May, the complaint says, he traveled to D.C. to conduct surveillance and take photographs of the Capitol, Pentagon and East Potomac Park, his planned launch site.
The complaint says that, in July, he created a false identity to purchase a remote-controlled F-86 Sabre aircraft and a cover story for why he was buying the model plane.
He discussed what explosive materials he would need, and undercover agents on Wednesday delivered the items. Those included 25 pounds of C-4 explosives, three grenades and six AK-47 assault rifles, according to the complaint. Ferdaus inspected them and took him to a storage unit, the complaint says. He was then arrested and is charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, attempting to destroy national defense premises and attempting to damage federal buildings using an explosive.
