Florida man arrested for plotting to blow up NYSE
Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, a 30-year-old Coral Springs, Florida resident, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on charges of plotting to bomb the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The alleged motive behind this plot was to "reboot" the US government, the FBI said. Yener's activities came under investigation in February after a tip-off about potential bomb-making plans stored in a local storage unit.
Evidence found in storage unit linked to Yener
During the investigation, FBI agents found bomb-making sketches, several watches with timers, electronic circuit boards, and other electronics in Yener's storage unit. Yener reportedly confided his plan to undercover agents, intending to detonate the bomb a week before Thanksgiving. He allegedly circled November 18 as the date for his planned attack on the NYSE, describing it as "like a small nuke went off."
Yener's history of threats and extremist ties
Court documents show that Yener had a history of making threats and was active on YouTube, posting videos about making explosives and fireworks. According to the FBI, he had been searching for bomb-making-related information online since 2017. He had previously tried joining extremist groups like the Boogaloo Bois and Proud Boys but was rejected for expressing a desire to "pursue martyrdom." In 2015, Yener had considered joining ISIS but ultimately decided against it over doubts about their objectives.
Yener's detailed plan and post-attack messages
Yener had planned to disguise himself while planting the explosives, which he had rigged with two-way radios as remote triggers. On November 12, he recorded audio messages intended for NBC News to be played after the attack. In these recordings, Yener stated, "I feel like Bin Laden." He reportedly said, "anything outside" the building "will be wiped out" and "anything inside there would be killed." Yener is being tried in the Southern District of Florida.
