A Florida man is in custody after federal authorities allege he concocted a plan to detonate an explosive device at the New York Stock Exchange in an attempt to "reboot" the U.S. government. Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, the 30-year-old Coral Springs resident, has been charged with trying to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building used in interstate commerce. This information comes following Yener's arrest yesterday, as reported by NBC Miami.
The FBI's involvement began in February when they received a tip about Yener's storage of "bombmaking schematics" in a unit, leading them to a cache of bomb-making sketches, watches with timers, electronic circuit boards, and other electronics. According to the same source, Yener's online activity, since 2017 showed a concerning pattern of searches related to bomb-making. In his discussions with undercover FBI agents, Yener revealed his intentions to strike the stock exchange the week before Thanksgiving, expressing that “The Stock Exchange, we want to hit that, because it will wake people up,” as recounted in court documents obtained by Time.
The suspect, who has been described as "unhoused," advocated for an attack that would result in devastation “like a small nuke went off,” according to court documents released by NBC Miami. Yener's arrest precedes the Thanksgiving holiday. In his preparation, Yener had adapted two-way radios to serve as remote triggers for an explosive device and even planned to wear a disguise during the execution of the plot, as stated in court papers.
Yener's previous online behavior included posting videos on YouTube, detailing how to make explosives and fireworks from everyday household items. His history of menacing behavior also includes a troubling incident where he was fired from his job at a restaurant after claiming he might "go Parkland shooter in this place," in the workplace, according to information from NBC Miami. Though he sought affiliation with groups like the Boogaloo Bois and the Proud Boys, his aspirations for martyrdom led to his rejection. Yener made his initial court appearance yesterday afternoon and will remain in detention pending trial. Efforts to reach Yener or his representatives for comment have been unsuccessful thus far, with calls to publically listed numbers going unanswered and no attorney listed in court records.
