A man from Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to using the Internet to promote terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets in the United States.

The U.S. Justice Department made the announcement Tuesday in the case of 22-year-old Emerson Winfield Begolly, who also has pleaded guilty to using a firearm during an assault on FBI agents.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney David Hickton commended the FBI for making the arrest before the suspect had committed “actions ending in tragedy.” U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride said the arrest underscores the serious threat posed by “homegrown terrorists” to the United States.

Authorities say Begolly used the Ansar al-Mujahideen English Forum, or AMEF, to solicit people to use guns, explosives and propane tanks against bridges, post offices, military facilities, Jewish schools and other targets. AMEF is an internationally-used website that promotes Islamist extremism.

Officials also say Begolly, posting messages under the pseudonym Abu Nancy, urged extremists on the website to “write their legacy in blood” and that they would be rewarded with “a special place in the afterlife.” They say Begolly also posted a manual on how to build a bomb.

Begolly also is charged with assaulting FBI agents as they tried to prevent him from pulling out a loaded gun concealed on his body. Begolly is scheduled to be sentenced in late November.