Pentagon drone plotter held after latest US anti-terrorist sting operation

A man has been arrested, accused of plotting an attack on the Pentagon and US Capitol using remote-controlled aircraft armed with explosives.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Sep 2011, 07:00 BST

In the latest of several terrorism cases to spring from US government sting operations, Rezwan Ferdaus was arrested in Massachusetts after undercover agents delivered materials he had allegedly requested, including grenades, six machine guns and what he believed was 24lbs of C-4 explosive.

According to a federal affidavit, Ferdaus, 26, became convinced America was evil through jihadi websites and videos and began planning “jihad” against the US in early 2010. He contacted a federal informant that December and months later, allegedly began meeting to discuss the plot with undercover agents he believed were members of al-Qaida.

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Ferdaus said he wanted to deal a psychological blow to the “enemies of Allah” by hitting the Pentagon, which he called “head and heart of the snake”, according to the affidavit.

“Allah has given us the privilege,” he allegedly told the informant. “... He punishes them by our hand. We’re the ones.”

Ferdaus, an unmarried US citizen who graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in physics, made a brief initial appearance in court. A detention hearing will be held on Monday.