Federal authorities in New York have arrested a man they say was plotting to blow up the Federal Reserve building in Manhattan.

It's just blocks away from the World Trade Center site.

Authorities say the man, identified as Quazi Nafis, was arrested in a sting operation this morning. They say he parked a van filled with what he believed were explosives outside the building, and tried to detonate it in a suicide mission.

Earlier in the day, they say, he had gone to a warehouse and assembled what he thought was a 1,000-pound bomb. But the materials he was using consisted of inert explosives provided by federal agents.

Authorities say Nafis had recorded a videotaped statement in which he said, "We will not stop until we attain victory or martyrdom."

They say he proposed several spots for his attack, including the New York Stock Exchange.

According to a complaint filed in federal court, the Bangladeshi native said he had connections to al-Qaida, and that he traveled to the U.S. in January to carry out an attack. It says he was trying to recruit people, but one was a secret FBI source, and Nafis was closely monitored.

He's facing a charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to provide material support for al-Qaida.

New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says the 21-year-old arrested on charges that he plotted to blow up the Federal Reserve building in Manhattan came to the U.S. on a student visa.

Kelly says the Bangladeshi man came under the guise of going to school in Missouri but was really plotting an attack.

Authorities tracked him using Facebook and other social media, but the account was taken down Wednesday.

Kelly says the city remains at the top of the terrorist target list.

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