A 26-year-old veteran named Mark Steven Domingo was planning a terror attack in the Los Angeles area as revenge for Muslims murdered in a terror attack in New Zealand last month. Fox News reports Domingo considered a few possible targets before settling on a planned march in Long Beach which was set to take place yesterday:

Prosecutors say Domingo made online posts that “expressed support for violent jihad, a desire to seek retribution for attacks against Muslims, and a willingness to become a martyr.” Authorities added that after Domingo considered attacks targeting “Jews, churches and police officers,” he decided to detonate an improvised explosive device at the Long Beach rally, which police said was called off Sunday morning… The affidavit also alleges that Domingo posted an online video on March 2 professing his belief in Islam. The following day, he posted on an unnamed social media network that “america needs another vegas event … to kick off civil unrest,” a reference to the October 2017 mass shooting at a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip. Domingo allegedly wrote that such an event would be “about weakening america [and] giving them a taste of the terror they gladly spread all over the world.”

But Domingo was caught thanks to a sting operation that began when he started talking online about revenge for the New Zealand attack. From NBC News:

“There were mosque shootings in new Zealand,” Domingo posted to a private group online on March 14, according to federal prosecutors. “[T]here must be retribution.” Domingo allegedly added: “I feel like I should make a christians life miserable tomorrow for our fallen bros n sis in [N]ew Zealand…maybe a jews life…they shed our blood…no Muslim should have to experience this, a message needs to be sent.” An FBI informant, who was already in the private message group along with an FBI “online covert employee,” made contact with Domingo two days later, the indictment says. Over six weeks of plotting with the informant, Domingo fantasized about murdering a laundry list of perceived enemies, including Christians, Jews, white supremacists, police officers, even his next-door neighbor.

When asked if he planned to escape after the attack, Domingo replied, “Martyrdom, bro.” Domingo bought 80 pounds of 3-inch nails which were intended to be used as shrapnel in the bomb he would be provided. Undercover FBI agents eventually delivered the inert “bomb” to Domingo last week. He accepted it and was arrested. He has been charged with providing material support to terrorists.

The “white supremacist” march in Long Beach, California that Domingo planned to bomb Sunday never happened. The organizer called the police and told them no one would be showing up. But counter-protesters including anarchists and Democratic Socialist groups did show up and held a rally.