A 29-year-old Moroccan man thinking he was going to attack the U.S. Capitol as a suicide bomber instead was arrested Friday afternoon in an FBI sting, authorities said.
The man was on foot making his way toward the Capitol when he was arrested by the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police, federal law enforcement officials said. He had an inoperable explosive device on his body and an inoperable gun, both of which had been provided by the FBI, a source told the Associated Press.
The man was brought to the FBI’s attention because of his extremist views. He coordinated with the FBI for a few months, believing he was communicating with al-Qaeda, law enforcement officials said.
The public was under no danger during the incident, officials said.
