A Florida man was arrested this week for allegedly plotting to bomb the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), according to disturbing court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, was arrested on Wednesday and allegedly planned to carry out the terrorist attack in New York City sometime during the week of November 18.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced Yener’s arrest Wednesday night, saying he was charged with “attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building used for interstate commerce.”
Before his arrest, the suspect unknowingly worked with undercover FBI agents.
The suspect tasked the agents with “procuring the explosive element for the device, conducting surveillance of the business, and obtaining photos of the building to identify the precise location for detonating the explosive device.”
“Yener planned on wearing a disguise when planting the explosive device outside the business and recorded a message to be delivered to the press about his reasons for the attack,” the US Attorney’s Office explained Wednesday.
“Yener anticipated the impact of the explosion would be ‘like a small nuke went off’ and that ‘[a]nything outside’ the building ‘will be wiped out’ and ‘anything inside there would be killed’.”
The FBI started tracking the suspect in February 2024.
According to court documents filed Wednesday, agents were alerted when they discovered Yener “storing bombmaking schematics in an unlocked storage unit in Coral Springs, Florida,” the filings state.
In March, the FBI searched his unit and discovered electronic circuit boards, bombmaking sketches, and several watches with timers.
When agents interviewed Yener, he admitted that he considered joining ISIS in 2015 after a self-identified member offered to recruit him.
But he chose not to join.
“Yener said he decided not to join ISIS in 2015 because Yener believed ISIS would not ultimately succeed in achieving their objectives,” according to the paperwork.
The suspect later met with an undercover FBI agent who he believed was a member of a militia group.
Yener told the agent that he planned to bomb the NYSE during the week of November 18, 2024.
He stated that his goal was to “reboot” or “reset” the United States government.
Yener later had several conversations with undercover agents and a confidential source.
The suspect allegedly demonstrated disturbing knowledge of terrorist activities and expressed a desire to target civilian areas.
“Yener discussed how bombing a power plant would greatly inconvenience local government and the community,” according to the court paperwork.
“Yener discussed that if one was interested in creating causalities, they might target a Walmart instead of a power plant.”
“Yener told the CS [confidential source] if one wanted to minimize civilian causalities, they could target the Walmart at night when the store is less crowded.”
The FBI also discovered Yener’s YouTube channel, which featured videos “detailing how to construct explosives and fireworks from household items.”
Additionally, the channel “shared multiple videos about how to make triggers associated with traps and explosives.”
Yener eventually admitted that the NYSE was the ideal location and that “tons of people” would support the attack.
“There is one place that would be hella easy … the stock exchange, that would be a great hit,” replied Yener.
“A huge number of people would support it. They’d notice it and think, “Dude, this guy makes sense; they’re [profanity] robbing us.” So that is perfect.”
The FBI also obtained a “demand statement” recorded by Yener on November 12 and intended to send to NBC News the day of or the day after the future bombing.
“When UCE-1 [undercover FBI employee] gave Yener a microphone into which Yener would record his statement, Yener commented: ‘I feel like Bin Laden ,'” according to the filings.
The court documents describe the eerie message Yener recorded afterward.
The suspect described the planned terrorist attacks as “a new revolution.”
“What you’ve just witnessed at the Stock Exchange and California was just the beginning of a new era,” Yener is quoted as saying.
“Be warned: if you raise your fists, we will cut them off.” If you kick at us, we’ll break your legs. If you speak ill of us, we will cut out your tongue. “If you aren’t willing to stand, you will become a victim.”
