A U.S. citizen arrested on charges of providing support to a foreign terrorist organization was formally indicted Thursday in the northeastern U.S. city of Boston.

Twenty-six-year-old Rezwan Ferdaus is charged with plotting to damage or destroy the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol with remote-controlled model aircraft filled with plastic explosives.

He is also charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to al-Qaida, in order to attack American soldiers overseas. Ferdaus was arrested following an undercover operation.

Officials say Ferdaus began planning a “jihad,” or holy war, against the United States in early 2010. They allege he envisioned causing a large psychological impact by killing Americans, including women and children, whom he referred to as “enemies of Allah.” Investigators say the public was never in any danger from the explosive devices, which were controlled by undercover FBI employees.

If convicted, Ferdaus faces up to 20 years in prison.