Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CINCINNATI (AP) — The FBI says an Ohio man who believes in the extremist group Islamic State plotted to attack the U.S. Capitol and kill government officials. He was arrested today after allegedly buying two semi-automatic rifles and 600 rounds of ammunition.
A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Ohio charges Christopher Lee Cornel with attempting to kill federal officers and employees. Cornell, also known as Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah, was arrested in an undercover operation in southwestern Ohio. That's according to a FBI official in Cincinnati.
Documents say Cornell met with an informant twice late last year and said he intended to travel to Washington to develop "a plan of attack." The complaint says Cornell planned to join the informant in setting off pipe bombs at and near the Capitol and then shoot and kill employees and officials.
The complaint also alleges that an FBI informant began supplying agents with information about Cornell last year. The informant and Cornell, who's 20 and lives in Green Township, first began communicating through Twitter in August and then through an instant messaging platform separate from Twitter.
The FBI says Cornell was monitored and that the public was never in danger.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
