Suspect Arrested Near U.S. Capitol In Terrorism Probe

February 17, 2012

Authorities have arrested a suspect near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington as part of a terrorism investigation. They have indicated that he intended to use explosives.

Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said the explosives "had been rendered inoperable by law enforcement and posed no threat to the public."

Boyd said the arrest came after an undercover operation in which the suspect had been closely monitored by law-enforcement authorities.

There were no details on the charges brought against the suspect.

U.S. media reports said the man is of Moroccan descent and believed he would be conducting a suicide attack on the Washington landmark, but had actually been caught in an FBI sting operation.

Compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/terror_suspect_arrested_near_us_capitol/24488060.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.