Reports: FBI foils Islamic State-inspired attack

(All times Eastern)
UPDATE @ 5:32 p.m.:

Christopher Lee Cornell, who posted to a Twitter account using the alias Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah, was arrested today as he took control of a firearm during an undercover FBI operation, according to federal prosecutors.

Cornell, 20, of suburban Cincinnati, posted statements, videos and other content in support of the Islamic State and violent acts of jihad, according to federal court documents.

UPDATE @ 5:19 p.m.:

According to an arrest warrant for 20-year-old Christopher Lee Cornell of suburban Cincinnati, Cornell “purchased and possessed firearms in furtherance of a plan to shoot and kill United States government officers and employees.”

The warrant was issued today, and was filed at 2:59 p.m. in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati.

UPDATE @ 5:09 p.m.:

A 20-year-old suburban Cincinnati man arrested today was taken into custody by an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force that included officers from Dayton and Xenia police departments, according to the Department of Justice.

FIRST TAKE

A Cincinnati man was arrested today after federal authorities said he planned an attack on the U.S. Capitol.

According to federal documents, Christopher Lee Cornell, of Green Twp. in Hamilton County, is charged attempting to kill a U.S. government officer and possession of firearm in furtherance of attempted crime of violence

Cornell used the Twitter alias Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah and tweeted support for known terrorist groups, according to FBI officials.

A confidential government source made contact with him on Twitter, agents said. They said the two met up in Cincinnati on Oct. 17 and 18 and discussed an attack on the U.S. Capitol, WCPO reported.

Cornell told the source he needed weapons and wanted to “move” in December, according to court documents. He also showed the source he had “jihadist videos and information about constructing bombs,” the documents state.

He told the source that members of Congress were enemies and he intended to build, plant and detonate pipe bombs at and near the US Capitol, authorities said. Agents said he also planned to use firearms to kill employees and officials.

Federal authorities arrested Cornell Wednesday after he purchased firearms, officials said.