'Momma's boy' arrested in suspected bombing plot on U.S. Capitol building

An Ohio man, described by his father as a “momma’s boy who never left the house,” was arrested and charged on Wednesday in connection with a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol with guns and bombs, court documents disclosed. Federal authorities’ image of Christopher Cornell, 20, of Cincinnati differs greatly from his father’s opinion: Court records indicate that the younger Cornell researched the construction of pipe bombs and indicated on Twitter that he supported the Islamic State under the alias Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah. He was arrested Wednesday by the Joint Terrorism Task Force outside a Cincinnati-area gun shop after purchasing two M-15 rifles and 600 rounds of ammunition.

Nobody knew enough to be scared.

Tom Willingham, president and CEO of Point Blank Range & Gun Shop, where Cornell purchased the guns and ammunition

According to the documents, in instant messages to the undercover FBI informant, Cornell indicated that while he did not have support to conduct an attack on behalf of any group, “we already got a thumbs up from the Brothers over there and Anwar al Awlaki before his martyrdom and many others.” Awlaki was killed by the United States in Yemen in 2011. In a November meeting with the informant, Cornell said he considered members of Congress to be his enemies, and he outlined a plan to place pipe bombs at and near the U.S. Capitol and use firearms to kill employees and officials inside, according to the documents. Cornell’s father, John Cornell, said he is skeptical of the charges against his son, who converted to Islam. He said his son found “peace in religion”—religion that also brought him scorn from people he encountered.

We always see the looks people give my son. One time, he was just walking across the street to the store and people driving by threw (objects) at him. Hey, that’s my son and I love him just the same.

John Cornell, father of terrorism suspect Christopher Cornell

World Ohio arrest