Attempted Federal Reserve Bomber Gets 30 Years In Prison

The failed Federal Reserve Bank bomber was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday after a judge determined he is no longer a “hardened Islamic terrorist.”

Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, 22, was charged and convicted of attempting to blow up the lower Manhattan building with 1,000 pounds of explosives.

But the former college student and Bangladeshi native was thwarted by a sting operation and arrested in October for his attempted mass-murder, reports CNN.

Nafis pleaded guilty in February to the charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. In doing so, he understood that he faced a possible life sentence.

But Federal Judge Carol Amon decided against the life sentence in her ruling, following a five-page letter the attempted bomber sent to her.

The New York Daily News notes that the letter included Nafis’ explanation for how he transformed from a stuttering loner to a radical Muslim extremist.

He added in Brooklyn Federal Court that he wanted to “apologize to the American people.” He went on to say, “I apologize to New York City especially. I apologize to my parents. I failed them.”

The attempted bomber came to the United States in January 2012 under the pretense of studying. However, he also carried bomb-making instructions to carry out the attack on the Federal Reserve Bank. His hatred of the US was apparently motivated by his belief that the US was responsible for raping and killing Muslims worldwide.

But his plan was thwarted by the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorist Task Force, which set in motion a sting operation to halt the Bangladeshi’s plans. But after being caught, Nafis apparently had a change of heart.

Instead of wanting Americans dead, the attempted Federal Reserve Bank bomber now professes his love for the country. He commented that the kindness he saw from FBI agents and prison guards changed his mind about the country.

Should he survive 30 years in prison, The attempted bomber will be deported to his native Bangladesh.

[Image by Beyond My Ken via Wikimedia Commons]