FBI thwarts plot to bomb New York Stock Exchange

Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, of Coral Springs, has been charged with attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building used in interstate or foreign commerce. He first became under investigation by the FBI in February and planned to carry out the attack on the week of Nov. 18, court documents show. According to NBC News, Yener is homeless.

The FBI received a tip that Yener was hoarding bomb-making schematics in an unlocked storage unit in Coral Springs, Florida. The criminal complaint stated that after obtaining a search warrant, FBI agents located "bomb-making sketches, electronic circuit boards and other electronics, and numerous watches with timers" that could be used to create an explosive in the storage unit.

In early March, Yener told undercover FBI agents that he considered moving to Iraq to join in fighting for ISIS in 2015 and had experience with making "bombs" and "rockets." Additionally, the defendant told officials that he previously tried to join a "domestic extremist group," according to the complaint.

During a discussion with one of the undercover FBI agents, Yener reportedly advised him of his plan to deploy and detonate his improvised device on the NYSE, with a bombing target date of Nov. 18. The defendant said he wanted to "attain a 'reboot' and/or 'reset' of the United States government," as per court documents.

The South Florida resident planned to record a message that he intended to send to the press, stating that a "small nuke went off" and "anything inside [the building] would be killed," according to the complaint. On Nov. 12, Yener recorded several audio messages that he planned to send to NBC News on the day of the bombing, telling the FBI agent at the time, "I feel like Bin Laden," investigators said.

The case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.