I mean, the FBI basically set the whole thing up, but they did a wonderful job foiling it once the perp reconsidered.
https://news.google.com/news/amp?caurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2017%2F12%2F22%2Fex-marine-cites-trumps-jerusalem-decision-planned-isis-attack-christmas-fbi%2F978164001%2F#pt0-217133Jameson first attracted FBI attention after the agency received a tip that he'd been interacting with Facebook posts praising the Islamic State, including one showing an image of Santa Claus in New York and a box of dynamite with the words, "We meet at Christmas in New York...soon," a federal affidavit states.
An undercover FBI agent talked with Jameson over the Internet. They eventually met in person and talked about Jameson possibly traveling overseas to fight for ISIS or initiating an attack in the U.S., a criminal complaint states.
Court documents show Jameson told the undercover agent he was "well versed" in the Anarchist Cookbook, a book detailing the construction of explosives.
The agent told him "to go home and think about what he was saying," the documents say, but Jameson instead said he was ready and wanted to do something similar to recent attacks in New York and San Bernardino, Calif.
Jameson told the agent he wanted to place explosives on Pier 39 and use them to corral people toward a location where he could continue killing. He said Christmas at the tourist attraction "was the perfect day to commit the attack," according to the federal court documents.
He said he didn't need an escape plan because he "was ready to die," the affidavit states.
The agent asked, according to the complaint, whether he could help get any supplies for Jameson, to which he replied that he'd need a rifle, ammunition, chowder, tubing, nails and remote detonators.
Later that night, according to his arrest report, Jameson told the undercover agent he couldn't talk and "I also don't think I can do this after all. I've reconsidered."
Jameson was then arrested and the FBI got search warrants for his home.
Crazy Nut On Internet: I love ISIS!
FBI: Oh really? Planning anything?
CNOI: Totally. Gonna go fight for ISIS and kill people. Totally gonna do it.
FBI: Sounds great. What can I provide for you to turn this from an internet whackjob rant to something actionable? Can I help you plan anything?
CNOI: Totally, get me a bunch of guns and stuff. I'm totally gonna do this. Any day now.
FBI: Okey dokey.
CNOI: You know what, I don't want to do this anymore.
FBI: You're under arrest.
Media: Man, the FBI totally foiled that terrorist attack. Get some medals ready.
Authorities trot one of these "busts" out every few months.