A federal grand jury in Lubbock yesterday indicted Saudi engineering student Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari.
Prosecutors say Aldawsari was attempting to build a bomb with components bought on line and that he was mulling plans to attack various sites, including dams, nuclear plants and the Dallas home of former President Bush.
Aldawsari was arrested on February 23. He faces up to life in prison and a USD 250,000 fine if convicted.
Court records indicate that federal agents traced his online purchases, discovered extremist online posts he made and secretly searched his apartment, computer and e-mail accounts and read his diary, according to court records.
Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the US has been very cautious of any and all suspects and takes the threats seriously.
Back in 2001, Al-Qaeda operatives used planes as missiles against the Twin Towers in New York City, amongst other places.
More than 3,000 people were killed and the attack greatly embarrassed the United States.
Since the attacks, several other extremists have tried to launch their own attacks but that have all failed.
The FBI have been vigilant and arrested several people that tried to attack the country.
A Nigerian extremist succeeded in taking a bomb to a plane in his pants but the device failed at the most crucial time.