Feds: Mass. man planned to blow up Pentagon

BOSTON - A 26-year-old Massachusetts man has been arrested and accused of plotting to destroy the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol with large remote-controlled aircraft filled with explosives.

Rezwan Ferdaus of Ashland was arrested Wednesday in Framingham when undercover federal agents delivered materials he'd requested for his alleged plan, including grenades, six machine guns and what Ferdaus believed was C-4 explosive.

Ferdaus also targeted U.S. soldiers, CBS News has learned.

Ferdaus, a U.S. citizen and Northeastern University graduate, was scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester on Wednesday afternoon.

A message for comment was left for his attorney, Catherine Byrne.

According to the federal affidavit, Ferdaus began planning "jihad" against the U.S. in early 2010. He allegedly believed he would have a large psychological impact by killing Americans, who he described as "enemies of Allah."

According to the affidavit, Ferdaus modified mobile phones to act as an electrical switch for an IED. He then supplied the phones to FBI undercover agents, who he believed to be recruiters for al Qaeda. Ferdaus allegedly believed that the devices would be used to kill American soldiers overseas and he was told that his first phone detonation device had killed three U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

According to the affidavit, Ferdaus responded, "That was exactly what I wanted."