First Posted: 1/14/2015
WASHINGTON — An Ohio man claiming to have ties to the Islamic State terror group was arrested after reportedly plotting to travel to Washington, attack the U.S. Capitol and kill federal government officials, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
The man, identified as 20-year-old Christopher Lee Cornell of the Cincinnati suburb of Green Township, was arrested by federal anti-terror agents and Ohio police.
In the criminal complaint, FBI Special Agent T.D. Staderman said Cornell came to the attention of authorities after he began posting online statements in support of Islamic State.
“I believe that we should just wage jihad under our own orders and plan attacks and everything,” Cornell allegedly said in one posting.
He also allegedly told an FBI informant that he wanted the man to join him in Washington, plant pipe bombs around the Capitol building and then shoot government employees fleeing the area.
Staderman said Cornell purchased two semiautomatic rifles and 600 rounds of ammunition, adding that Cornell was arrested when he “took possession” of the firearms.
