A homeless man from Florida has been arrested for allegedly planning to bomb the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in an attempt to initiate a "reboot" of the U.S. government.
The man, Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, was taken into custody following an investigation by the FBI. The investigation began after the FBI received a tip-off about Yener's suspicious activities. A search of his storage unit revealed materials related to bomb-making. Yener claimed he was experimenting with volatile chemical mixtures but denied any involvement with ISIS.
Undercover FBI agents made contact with Yener, who believed they supported his intentions. Yener requested assistance from an undercover agent to purchase items for constructing an improvised explosive device (IED) at a Walmart. He identified the New York Stock Exchange as his target, believing it would garner widespread support. Yener made audio recordings outlining his intentions and desired to send them to NBC News.
He was arrested on November 12 and has been charged with attempted use of an explosive to damage or destroy a building used in interstate or foreign commerce. The case highlights the potential threats to financial institutions and the efforts of law enforcement to prevent such plots.