Muslim grad of Northeastern U. arrested for planning drone attacks on Pentagon and US Capitol

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Physics major also planned devices to kill or maim US servicemen overseas.

9/28/11, "Ashland (Mass.) man accused of plotting to blow up Pentagon," Boston Herald, Joe Dwinell

"An Ashland Muslim man was arrested today for what authorities said was an al-Qaeda-inspired plot to turn the tables on the U.S. military by targeting the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol with unmanned drones packed with explosives.

The 26-year-old Northeastern University grad with a degree in physics is also accused of trying to rig cell phones to blow up improvised explosive devices to maim or kill U.S. soldiers serving overseas.

The suspect, Rezwan Ferdaus, intended to stuff the remote-controlled aircraft with C-4 plastic explosives, the feds said today. He was also accused of giving undercover FBI agents mobile phones rigged to “act as an electrical switch for an IED” to maim or kill U.S. soldiers serving overseas. He believed those FBI agents were “members or recruiters” here in Massachusetts for al-Qaeda.

He faces charges of attempting to provide material support to terrorists — specifically al-Qaeda — to launch those attacks, the U.S. Attorney in Boston Carmen M. Ortiz said.

Ortiz said today that “Mr. Ferdaus had long planned to commit violent acts against our country” that included using three “small drone planes” filled with explosives and guided by GPS equipment. He plotted to have six people, including himself and an “amir” (an Arabic term for leader)

• carry out the plot, feds said.

Ferdaus, who is an American citizen, was caught in an FBI sting that had him bragging he wanted to unleash a “psychological” direct hit on America.

“I just can’t stop; there is no other choice for me,” Ferdaus is accused of telling FBI undercover agents during the sting that began last January. He reportedly

• began plotting his jihad in early 2010.

One of the planes Ferdaus intended to use was 68 inches long with a 44-inch wingspan and was capable of traveling up to 160 mph and guided by GPS, the indictment reads.

Developing ..."

via Howie Carr