A college student from Queens has been accused of attempting to prepare an explosive device for denotation in the NYC area on behalf of the Islamic State.
He was arrested Saturday by federal agents.
According to a criminal complaint from the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Munther Omar Saleh was spotted walking across the George Washington Bridge twice in March, first carrying a lantern and looking around suspiciously. The second time, he was questioned by police and agents from the joint terrorism task force, but he denied any allegiance to the terrorist organization.
The complaint alleges Saleh's online activities indicated otherwise.
Authorities say he tweeted in September: "I fear AQ may be getting too moderate."
They also say he researched city landmarks and tourist attractions and emailed himself information on how to build a pressure cooker bomb. They say his search terms include "training," "equipment," "gear" and "weapons."
Authorities say he also spent time looking up watches and vacuums, items often used to make explosives.
By May, the criminal complaint says Saleh told an informant, "I'm in NY trying to do an Op," thought to be short for "operation," or terrorist attack.
He allegedly also visited a spy store in Queens and told the informant he would have to cut off communication at the direction of Islamic State leaders.
According to the complaint, Saleh's actions online last year and this year indicated a violent jihadist ideology and strong support for the Islamic State.
Prosecutors say Saleh was working with two accomplices and was with one of them Saturday. Those accomplices were taken in to custody, but have not been identified or charged.