Overview

Rezwan Ferdaus is a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin and a convicted domestic extremist sympathetic to al-Qaeda.“Rezwan Ferdaus admits US model plane explosives plot, BBC News, July 21, 2012, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18936072;
Agent Gary S. Cacace, “Affidavit of Special Agent Gary S. Cacace,” Guardian (London), September 28, 2011, http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2011/09/29/affidavit.pdf. In July 2012, he pled guilty to attempting to blow up the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol using remote-controlled planes, as well as attempting to give material support to the Foreign Terrorist Organization al-Qaeda.Jess Bidgood, “Massachusetts Man Gets 17 Years in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, November 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/rezwan-ferdaus-of-massachusetts-gets-17-years-in-terrorist-plot.html?_r=1. He told undercover FBI agents that he sought to kill American soldiers and that he never wavered in his convictions, even when given “dozens” of opportunities to back out of his plans by agents whom he believed were al-Qaeda operatives.Jess Bidgood, “Massachusetts Man Gets 17 Years in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, November 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/rezwan-ferdaus-of-massachusetts-gets-17-years-in-terrorist-plot.html?_r=1. In fact, according to the FBI, Ferdaus “repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to his attack plans and his hope to cause mass destruction and psychological harm to the United States.”“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists.

Ferdaus began to build parts for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in January 2011. That June, he gave the first of several of his devices to individuals he believed were al-Qaeda operatives, but were in fact undercover FBI agents. When falsely told by agents that his IEDs had killed U.S. soldiers, Ferdaus said he was “100% [at] peace,” and “so happy to hear that and so thankful,” according to the FBI.“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists.

In May 2011, Ferdaus traveled to Washington, D.C., to carry out surveillance on federal buildings. He also identified a site in East Potomac Park, Washington, from where to launch drone strikes.“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists. After renting a storage space under a false name in September 2011, Ferdaus asked his undercover contacts to give him “C-4 explosives, three grenades, and six fully automatic AK-47 assault rifles,” according to the FBI.“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists.

Ferdaus was arrested by FBI agents shortly after receiving these items. In July 2012, he pled guilty to two charges of conspiring to damage and destroy U.S. federal property with explosives, and attempting to provide material support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Prosecutors dropped six other charges in exchange for his guilty plea.“Rezwan Ferdaus admits US model plane explosives plot, BBC News, July 21, 2012, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18936072. In November of that year, Ferdaus was sentenced to 17 years in prison and 10 years of supervision upon release.Jess Bidgood, “Massachusetts Man Gets 17 Years in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, November 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/rezwan-ferdaus-of-massachusetts-gets-17-years-in-terrorist-plot.html?_r=1. According to the FBI affidavit, Ferdaus “planned to commit acts of violence against the United States, both here and abroad.” He also filmed a 20 minute training video that he believed would be used to train al-Qaeda militants.Jess Bidgood, “Massachusetts Man Gets 17 Years in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, November 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/rezwan-ferdaus-of-massachusetts-gets-17-years-in-terrorist-plot.html?_r=1.

Ferdaus had previously communicated with Jesse Morton, founder of the now-defunct extremist group and website Revolution Muslim.Matt Zapotosky, “The feds billed him as a threat to American freedom. Now they’re paying him for help,” Washington Post, February 5, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/the-feds-billed-him-as-a-threat-to-american-freedom-now-theyre-paying-him-for-help/2016/02/04/32be460a-c6c5-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html. According to the FBI, in February 2010 Ferdaus sought the advice of Morton regarding the propriety of martyrdom operations.  Morton replied that such operations could have “enormous benfits (sic) in a war of attrition.”“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists. Morton later “admitted to influencing Rezwan Ferdaus,” according to the New York Police Department.“Terrorist Plots Targeting New York City,” New York Police Department, accessed September 6, 2016, http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/pr/plots_targeting_nyc.shtml. Morton later “admitted to influencing Rezwan Ferdaus,” according to the New York Police Department.Jason Ryan, Pierre Thomas, and Richard Esposito, “New York Man Guilty in ‘South Park’ Murder Threat,” ABC News, February 09, 2012, https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/york-man-guilty-south-park-murder-threat/story?id=15548422.