US Terror Suspect to Appear in Court in Aerial Bomb Plot on Washington

Posted October 3rd, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC-5)
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A U.S. citizen accused of plotting to attack the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol with remote-controlled planes carrying explosives is due to appear in a federal court Monday for a bail hearing.

Twenty-six year old Rezwan Ferdaus was arrested last Wednesday after undercover federal agents delivered materials that he allegedly requested for use in the plot. The materials included C-4 explosives and small weapons. His detention hearing is scheduled to be held in a federal court in the northeastern state of Massachusetts, where he lives.

Prosecutors have charged Ferdaus with attempting to use explosives against a national defense site and a U.S. government-owned building. He also is charged with attempting to provide material support to al-Qaida terrorists to attack American soldiers overseas. Officials accuse Ferdaus of starting to plan a “jihad” or holy war against the United States in early 2010.

If convicted, Ferdaus faces up to 15 years in prison on the charge of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He also faces up to 20 years in prison on the charge of attempting to destroy national defense premises.