A Bangladeshi man arrested on suspicion that he plotted to blow up the Federal Reserve building in New York City has appeared in federal court and been ordered held without bail.
Federal authorities arrested 21-year-old Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis in lower Manhattan Wednesday on suspicion that he planned to detonate a van with explosives in a suicide mission. Officials say he was arrested in a sting operation and that there were no other suspects involved.
They say Nafis traveled to the United States in January. Earlier Wednesday, officials say he went to a warehouse to assemble a bomb, but used inactive explosives provided by federal agents. He then allegedly parked the van near the Federal Reserve building and tried to detonate what he thought were explosives in the vehicle.
Officials say Nafis was closely monitored and there was never any danger to the public.
###