The FBI recently foiled a plot by an American man to set off pipe bombs to blow up the U.S. Capitol. Christopher Lee Cornell was arrested for the attempted terrorist plot outside Cincinnati.
Cornell was the least likely lone wolf terrorist, according to his parents. He was a soft-spoken man who spent time with his parents and was a recent convert to Islam.
“He said, ‘I’m at peace with myself,'” said his father, John Cornell.
However, Cornell’s conversion to Islam became more radicalized and he supported the terrorist group ISIS. Under the online alias, “Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah,” he advocated for violent attacks on America.
Cornell was increasingly also spouting anti-Semitic beliefs and disrupted a 9/11 remembrance by carrying a sign saying, ” 9/11 was an inside job.”
In one online message, he wrote, “We should meet up and make our own group in alliance with the Islamic State here and plan operations ourselves.”
Cornell was caught after an informant told the FBI about Cornell’s violent online tirades. He met the informant in October and November where he voiced his plan to attack the Capitol. The informant then told the FBI about the plot.
Cornell bought two M-15 semi-automatic rifles and 600 rounds of ammunition before he planned to drive to Washington to carry out the terrorist attack. The FBI arrested him outside of the store where he bought the weapons and ammunition.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin after Cornell’s arrest warning about U.S.-based terrorism.”The alleged activities of Cornell highlight the continued interest of US-based violent extremists to support designated foreign terrorist organizations overseas, such as ISIL, by committing terrorist acts in the United States,” read the bulletin.
Cornell’s parents expressed disbelief and sadness at his arrest. “I’m in shock”, said his father.
“I feel like my heart has been ripped out,” added his mother, Angel Carmen.
