Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, a 30-year-old man from Florida, was arrested on November 20, 2024, on charges of attempting to bomb the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) ahead of Thanksgiving.
Yener faces serious charges, including attempting to use an explosive device to destroy a building involved in interstate commerce. His arrest followed an FBI investigation that began in February after authorities received a tip about Yener storing bomb-making schematics in an unsecured storage unit.
Upon searching the unit, officials found bomb-making materials, such as electronic circuit boards and watches equipped with timers, along with blueprints for creating explosives.
Further investigation revealed that Yener had conducted multiple bomb-making searches on his Google account dating back to 2017, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
In June 2024, Yener allegedly met with undercover FBI agents whom he believed to be part of an anti-government militia. During this meeting, Yener reportedly expressed his desire to join the militia and build an explosive device. He also shared that he intended to target a business in New York City the week before Thanksgiving, explaining that the attack would serve as a “reboot” and “reset” for the U.S. government.
According to court documents, Yener’s specific target was the New York Stock Exchange. “The Stock Exchange, we want to hit that, because it will wake people up,” he allegedly told the agents.
Yener’s plan involved traveling to New York to set up the bomb, disguising himself, and recording a message to the press explaining his motivations for the attack. He reportedly claimed that the bombing would be “like a small nuke going off” and that the destruction would be widespread, with casualties both inside and outside the building.
During the investigation, it was also revealed that Yener had a history of making violent threats. He had posted YouTube videos instructing others on how to create explosives and fireworks using common household items. In addition, Yener had considered joining ISIS in 2015 but ultimately decided against it, believing the terrorist group would fail to achieve its goals.
Yener made his first court appearance on November 20, where he was ordered to remain in detention until his trial. Authorities continue to investigate his activities.
