FBI: Ohio man planned to bomb US Capitol, kill officials

Lights illuminate the U.S. Capitol, which is covered in scaffolding for restoration, in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. A man who plotted to attack the Capitol and kill government officials inside it and spoke of his desire to support the Islamic State militant group was arrested on Wednesday, the FBI said. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Lights illuminate the U.S. Capitol, which is covered in scaffolding for restoration, in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. A man who plotted to attack the Capitol and kill government officials inside it and spoke of his desire to support the Islamic State militant group was arrested on Wednesday, the FBI said. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By Associated Press January 15, 2015 3 min read

CINCINNATI (AP) – A 20-year-old Ohio man’s Twitter posts sympathizing with Islamic terrorists led to an undercover FBI operation and the man’s arrest on charges that he plotted to blow up the U.S. Capitol and kill government officials.

Christopher Lee Cornell, also known as Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah, told an FBI informant they should “wage jihad,” and showed his plans for bombing the Capitol and shooting people, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Ohio Wednesday. The FBI said Cornell expressed his support for the Islamic State.

Cornell’s arrest came only days after a grand jury indictment charged another Cincinnati-area resident with threatening to murder House Speaker John Boehner.

Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in a statement Wednesday: “Once again, the entire Congress owes a debt of gratitude to the FBI and all those who keep us safe.”

The complaint against Cornell charges him with attempting to kill officers and employees of the United States.