FBI: Mass. Man Planned Drone Attack on Capitol, Pentagon

Rezwan Ferdaus allegedly also planned to attack US troops overseas
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 28, 2011 3:42 PM CDT
FBI Says Rezwan Ferdaus Pplanned to Attack Pentagon, US Capitol With Drones
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 21: Hundreds of people with disabilities, their family members and allies gather during a rally against possible cuts to Medicaid on the west front of the U.S. Capitol September 21, 2011 in Washington, DC. With Congress debating ways to cut the U.S. budget deficit, millions...   (Getty Images)

A Massachusetts man who authorities say planned to blow up the Pentagon and US Capitol using unmanned drones laden with explosives was arrested today. According to the US Attorney in Boston, Rezwan Ferdaus' plan included the use of three small drone planes filled with C-4 plastic explosives; six people would carry out the attack, and the indictment notes that one of the drones the 26-year-old Northeastern University grad planned to employ had a 44-inch wingspan and could travel as fast as 160mph.

The Boston Herald reports that Ferdaus, who is an American citizen, also allegedly plotted to kill US troops overseas by rigging cell phones designed to detonate IEDs; he reportedly gave these to undercover agents who he believed were actually al-Qaeda "members or recruiters." The FBI began tracking Ferdaus in January, and the AP reports that today's arrest in Framingham came as the undercover agents delivered materials he had requested, including grenades and six machine guns. He allegedly believed he would have a large psychological impact by killing Americans, whom he described as "enemies of Allah." (More Rezwan Ferdaus stories.)

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