Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts, also known as Abdur Raheem Rahfeeq, was arrested Sunday for his alleged Fourth of July terror plot

A man has been arrested for allegedly assisting Al Qaeda plot a Fourth of July terror attack in Ohio.

Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts, also known as Abdur Raheem Rahfeeq, was arrested Sunday at 10am, officials announced in a press conference Monday.

The US citizen allegedly proclaimed allegiance to Al Qaeda and planned to attack a Fourth of July celebration in downtown Cleveland by setting off a van filled with explosives and by sending remote control cars filled with bombs and shrapnel to the children of military officers.

He also wanted to take St. John's Cathedral in Cleveland 'off the map'.

Pitts wanted to target crowds that would gather for the Fourth of July parade in Cleveland as well firework spectators near his building, officials said.

Police revealed that last week he surveyed Fourth of July celebration locations throughout downtown Cleveland, scouting Voinovich Park and the US Coast Guard station, to plan the attack.

His plans were foiled after he detailed his intentions to an undercover FBI agent posing as an Al Qaeda associate.

Scroll down for video

Pitts planned to hit a parade and fireworks spectators, particularly striking federal agents. A file photo from the parade is seen above

One of the areas he scouted in his attack plans was the US Coast Guard Station in Cleveland

He also wanted to take St. John's Cathedral in Cleveland, pictured above, 'off the map'

He met with the undercover agent on Sunday where he shared his attack research, his desire to kill federal agents, and also discussed intentions for a future attack in Philadelphia, where he formerly resided.

Pitts in a police booking photo from February 2016

'I did tell myself that their holiday is coming up. The Fourth of July. Independence Day. What would hit them in the core? Blow up. Have a bomb. Blow up at the Fourth of July parade,' he reportedly said to the agent.

At the end of the meeting, he was arrested.

'Just last week, this defendant was walking around downtown Cleveland conducting reconnaissance on what he thought was a large-scale attack planned for the Fourth of July,' United States Attorney Justin Herdman said.

'He looked for locations to park a van that would be packed with explosives,' he added.

He was been charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

He is set to appear in court Monday and could face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years.

FBI agent Stephen Anthony said he was arrested Sunday after expressing his desire to kill military officers and launch a Fourth of July attack in downtown Cleveland

During a press conference Monday the FBI revealed his criminal history and foiled attack plans

Pitts scouted out popular locations that he reportedly wanted to strike including the Fourth of July parade, a firetruck procession from last year's parade is pictured above

Pitts raised alarm in 2017 while he was living in Southern Ohio after officials received reports of his support for al Qaeda and against the US armed forces.

He also has an extensive criminal history with records of domestic assault, aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon.

He shared radical messages on Facebook and in one statement reportedly wrote: 'We as Muslims need to start training like this everyday. we need to know how to shoot guns, throw hand grenades, hand to hand combat...'

In other disturbing and violent statements Pitts said he hated the military and wanted to 'chop of heads and hands' and 'dispose of bodies'.

He moved to Cleveland in May, where he remained under the watch of the FBI.

Following Pitts arrest Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson issued a statement.

'I want to thank the FBI and all the members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force -- men and women whose primary goal is to make Northeast Ohio safe. These law enforcement partners continue to secure us against those who seek to disrupt our way of life through violence and the threat of terrorist acts,' he said.