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Last updated on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
(ClEVELAND, OHIO) - A Bloomington man is accused of being the ringleader in an alleged plot to blow up a bridge near Cleveland, federal authorities said.
26-year-old, Douglas Wright, of Bloomington, was among five men arrested Monday night on charges of conspiracy and attempted use of explosive material to damage physical property affecting interstate commerce.
The FBI said the target of the plot was a bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the Brecksville area, roughly 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the men thought they had purchased two improvised explosive devices with a C4 remote detonator, which they placed at the base of the bridge Monday night.
The men were arrested when they tried to trigger the inert explosives.
Investigators said there was no danger to the public because the explosive devices were inoperable and were controlled by an undercover FBI employee.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Wright orchestrated the plot from Bloomington, recruiting others and funding the operation by selling marijuana and other drugs.
The suspects range in age from 20 and 35. Authorities said at least three are self-described anarchists and are not tied to international terrorism.
"These five self proclaimed anarchists conspired to developed multiple terror plots to negatively impact the greater Cleveland Metropolitan area," said U.S. Attorney Stephen Anthony.
Federal authorities said Wright began planning the attack on Cleveland in 2011.
Court documents said an informant recorded a conversation with Wright in which he allegedly talked about making "plastic explosives with bleach."
More recently, Federal investigators said Wright paid half of the agreed $900 payment for explosives, smoke grenades and gas masks to carry out the attack.
Investigators said the group had considered attacking a hospital and a federal reserve bank in Cleveland.
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