Mass. man arrested on bomb building, gun possession charges

FBI agents put Alexander Ciccolo under surveillance after being alerted to some of his posts on social media.

US authorities said on Monday they have arrested a heavily armed Massachusetts man who was building bombs in his apartment and planned to attack a crowded university campus cafeteria on behalf of the Islamic State militant group.

Alexander Ciccolo, 23, was arrested on July 4 for the unlawful receipt of multiple guns, the US Justice Department said in a news release. His indictment was unsealed on Monday. The college he intended to target was not disclosed.

FBI agents put Ciccolo under surveillance after being alerted to some of his posts on social media. They watched him buy at least one pressure cooker at a Wal Mart store in North Adams, Massachusetts, according to an affidavit by FBI Special Agent Paul Ambrogio.

Pressure-cooker bombs were used in the attacks on the Boston Marathon in 2013, killing three and injuring 264 people. Ciccolo is accused of being a supporter of Islamic State. Ciccolo told an informant he wanted to build bombs similar to the ones used in the attacks on the marathon, according to the affidavit.

After his arrest, authorities said they searched his apartment and found partially built bombs.

"These incendiary devices contained what appeared to be shredded Styrofoam soaking in motor oil," Ambrogio said in his affidavit. Ciccolo allegedly said the Styrofoam would cause the fire from the exploded devices to stick to people's skin and make it harder to put the fire out, according to the affidavit.

Ciccolo was arrested after taking delivery of two Glock handguns, a Colt AR-15 rifle and a SigArms high-powered rifle, according to authorities.

After his arrest while at the Franklin County House of Correction, Ciccolo is accused of assaulting a nurse. The assault left the woman with a minor injury, according to Ambrogio's affidavit.

It not immediately know whether Ciccolo had an attorney.