Man suspected of plotting to bomb White House, government buildings in DC arrested in Georgia

ATLANTA (FOX 5 DC) - A man suspected of plotting to bomb government buildings in the Washington, D.C. area, including the White House, is in custody in Georgia.

The U.S. Attorney's office says that 21-year-old Hasher Jallal Taheb has been arrested on terror charges.

Authorities said they began an investigation into Taheb after being tipped off by someone in the community.

Taheb has been charged with attempt to damage by means of an explosive any building owned, possessed, or leased by the United States.

Investigators said Taheb planned on being in the D.C. area as early as Thursday to launch his attack.

On Wednesday, he thought he was trading his car for assault rifles, explosives, and a grenade launcher. But Taheb soon learned that he was the target of an FBI sting.

The FBI revealed on Wednesday that they were led to Taheb by a tip from a community member who told them he'd been radicalized and changed his name.

That tip came in a year ago, and culiminated in a Wednesday arrest. Documents show that an FBI informant and an undercover cop partnered with Taheb, and made him believe they would participate in the attack.

Along with the White House, investigators say Taheb had plans to attack the Washington monument, Lincoln Memorial, and a specific synagogue.

He said "jihad" was an obligation, and that he was ready to die as a martyr.

The FBI sent the following statement following Taheb's arrest:

"It is important to point out that this investigation and arrest were the direct result of a tip from the community, another example of how important it is to contact law enforcement if you see or hear something suspicious," said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "Taheb is charged as the result of a year-long investigation by FBI Atlanta's Joint Terrorism Task Force. We want to thank the Forsyth County Sheriff Office and Gwinnett County Police Department for assisting us with his arrest. The investigation is continuing, but at this stage it is believed Taheb was acting on his own."