NEW YORK , NY (Catholic Online) - The terrorist now faces charges of attempting to use a weapons of mass destruction and providing material support to Al Qaeda. 
The FBI monitored Nafis after he tried to recruit an undercover FBI agent for a terror attacks on the US. It is unknown if the recruited individual was merely a known informant or if he was in fact an employee of the FBI. 

Nafis also boasted of having Al Qaeda connections. 

The FBI said that Nafis had some difficulty choosing his initial target, trying to decide between killing a high US official, attacking the New York Stock Exchange, and finally settling on the Federal Reserve Bank. 

Two FBI officials then worked with Nafis to provide him with the materials he needed, with the exception of the fact that none of the materials were in working order, so the public was never in any danger. 

Nafis packed the material into a van and attached a detonator to it. He then travelled to a Manhattan hotel with an undercover FBI agent, boasting of the importance of his mission. While at the hotel, he recorded what he thought to be his final statements. 

Nafis had also prepared a written statement saying he wanted to "destroy America" and claim credit for the bombing for Al Qaeda. Nafis felt the best way to accomplish his mission was to attack the US economy, hence the decision to strike the Reserve Bank. 

According to officials, one chilling part of his written statement included a quote from Osama bin Laden to justify the killing of women and children. It is certain his attack would have included civilian casualties because of the size of his intended explosion. 

Once Nafis was ready, he parked the van next to the Reserve Bank and attempted to detonate his bomb via cell phone. The bomb failed because it was incapable of working. 

He was arrested soon afterwards. 

Nafis' attempt is the 15th such attempt at attacking New York City. None of the attempts have been successful. Public officials are warning that despite the strong record, locals should not become complacent about stopping terror in their city. In fact, it has often been the vigilance of the locals that has prevented terrorists from staging a successful attack since they struck from the skies 11 years ago. 

© 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.