WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The arrest of a Massachusetts man accused of plotting to attack the U.S. Capitol and Pentagon highlights the threat of homegrown radicals, a lawmaker said.
Rezwan Ferdaus was charged with trying to provide material support and resources to al-Qaida to help the terrorist organization carry out attacks on U.S. soldiers overseas.
He also allegedly came up with the idea of attacking the Pentagon and Capitol with three remote-controlled airplanes filled with explosives with the goal of inflicting a large "psychological" impact by killing Americans, whom he referred to as "enemies of Allah."
U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the committee on Homeland Security, said the arrest was a reminder that terrorism wasn't just an overseas threat.
"The fact that Ferdaus is a very well-educated physicist should serve as a reminder to us that the threat of Islamic terrorism transcends socioeconomics and does not only emanate from the poor and underprivileged," said King. "Ferdaus' arrest also underscores the need to continue efforts to combat domestic radicalization and the evolving threat of 'lone wolf' extremists."
Ferdaus holds a psychics degree from Northeastern University.
King was rapped for a series of hearings looking into radicalization in the U.S. Muslim community. He said Washington was approaching the issue with kid gloves because of its position that meddling in the affairs of certain groups was bad policy.
