A 25-year-old Florida man intended to use explosives and weapons `` to create mayhem ' '' in Tampa -- a plot that authorities say was foiled thanks to the local Muslim community and law enforcement -- a U.S. attorney said Monday . `` When a person 's got an AK-47 which he believes is operable , when he has explosives which he believes are real , and when he has an explosive pack and a car bomb which ... he is going to utilize against Americans , that makes it a crime , '' Robert O'Neill , U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida , told reporters . `` Was it real ? It was very real . '' O'Neill spoke Monday in Tampa after an afternoon hearing for Sami Osmakac on one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction . The 25-year-old naturalized American born in Kosovo planned a car bombing that would be followed by hostage-taking and the explosion of a suicide belt he planned to wear , according to a criminal complaint made public Monday . `` We all have to die , so why not die the Islamic way ? '' Osmakac allegedly told an undercover FBI employee , according to the complaint . Osmakac said in a martyrdom video message recorded shortly before his arrest Saturday night that he wanted `` 'pay back ' for wrongs he felt were done to Muslims , '' the complaint said . O'Neill said that , through the local Muslim community , `` we were able to know that this person had this ideology and wanted to commit a crime . '' Steve Ibison , who heads the FBI 's Tampa office , called assistance from members of the Muslim community `` very significant '' throughout the investigation . `` This case is not about the Muslim religion , and it 's not about the Muslim community , '' Ibison said . `` It 's about an individual who committed a crime . '' Two law enforcement officials , who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to talk about the probe , said the suspect does not appear to have any ties to al Qaeda , and early information indicated he was `` self-radicalized . '' `` I do n't have any indication anyone else was involved in the plot and pushing this , '' one official said . `` There is no indication he was acting at the control or direction of al Qaeda , '' a second official said . The federal investigation of Osmakac began in September when a `` confidential human source '' told the FBI that Osmakac , a resident of Pinellas Park , Florida , `` asked for al Qaeda flags , '' the complaint said . By November , the suspect was discussing potential terror targets in Tampa and asked for the confidential source 's help in getting guns and explosives for the attacks , the complaint said . The government 's source introduced Osmakac to an undercover FBI employee , which led to a December 21 meeting during which the suspect said `` he wished to acquire an AK-47-style machine gun , Uzi submachine guns , high capacity magazines , grenades and an explosive belt , '' the complaint said . He later allegedly gave the FBI employee a $ 500 down payment for the weapons , according to the document . `` The explosives and firearms that he allegedly sought and attempted to use were rendered inoperable by law enforcement and posed no threat to the public , '' the government said . Osmakac outlined his plans during a New Year 's Day meeting with the undercover FBI employee , it said . His alleged bomb targets were `` night clubs in the Ybor City area of Tampa , the operations center of the Hillsborough County Sheriff 's Office in Ybor City and a business in the South Tampa area , '' the government said . By Saturday night , however , his primary target was an Irish bar in south Tampa , according to one of the law enforcement officials who spoke to CNN . Osmakac was looking for places where there would be large crowds , the official said . After the car bombing , he planned to retrieve guns and explosives stashed in a Tampa hotel room so he could begin the second phase of his attacks , the complaint said . He told the FBI employee that `` he wanted to use the explosive belt to 'get in somewhere where there 's a lot of people ' and take hostages , '' the complaint said . He would then demand that the FBI `` release some prisoners , '' it said . `` Once I have this ... they can take me in five million pieces , '' he allegedly said , `` an apparent reference to the explosive belt that would be attached to his waist , '' according to the government . FBI agents arrested Osmakac on Saturday night , just after he made the video explaining his motives , the complaint said . `` We arrested him when the attack was imminent , '' O'Neill said . The U.S. attorney acknowledged that there might have been significant bloodshed were it not for the tips from local Muslims and the work of law enforcement . `` There was no real danger to the community once we got involved , because we knew we could handle the situation , '' O'Neill said .
A U.S. attorney says the attack was `` imminent '' and the threat was `` very real '' Authorities thank the Muslim community for helping in the investigation . By MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON -- The FBI is investigating a possible hate crime against an American soldier who wore his uniform to work as he walked home from work, officials The 25-year-old man is `` self-radicalized , '' not tied to any terror group , a source says .