Mark Steven Domingo, 26, of Reseda, a former U.S. Army infantryman who served in Afghanistan, was arrested Friday after he received what he thought was a bomb but was actually an inert device supplied to him by an undercover law enforcement officer, federal officials said. (Courtesy of FBI)

Surrounded by members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, LAPD Chief Michel Moore, center, talks about the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

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Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, center, listens in during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Mark Steven Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

United States Attorney Nick Hanna announces the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

United States Attorney Nick Hanna, center, announces the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)



Photos of Mark Steven Domingo are displayed during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Handout Photo)

Surrounded by members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, United States Attorney Nick Hanna, 2nd from right, announces the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

From left, United States Attorney Nick Hanna, LAPD Chief Michel Moore and Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna announce the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Surrounded by members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, FBI Special Agent Ryan Young, center, announces the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Photos of Mark Steven Domingo are displayed during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Handout Photo)



FBI Special Agent Ryan Young, left, talks about the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. LAPD Chief Michel Moore, center, and Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, right, listen in. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Surrounded by members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, LAPD Chief Michel Moore, center, talks about the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

United States Attorney Nick Hanna, left, leaves a press conference after announcing the arrest of Mark Steven Domingo at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles on Monday, April 29, 2019. On Friday, FBI agents arrested Domingo, 26, of Reseda on federal charges in a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb at a Long Beach rally over the weekend. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Raging over a deadly attack on Muslim worshipers in New Zealand last month, a U.S. Army veteran planned to bomb a pair of rallies in Long Beach and Huntington Beach over the weekend as an act of revenge, law enforcement officials said Monday.

But as 26-year-old Mark Steven Domingo allegedly plotted, online and in person, with others he thought were co-conspirators, FBI agents were watching.

The Reseda man was arrested Friday after receiving what he thought was a bomb, but which actually was an inert device supplied to him by an undercover law enforcement officer, according to U.S. Attorney Nicola Hanna of California’s Central District.

Investigators said the plot was the peak of Domingo’s “rapid” radicalization over the course of just about a month, said Ryan Young, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles office.

“These are the kinds of cases that keep you up at night,” Young said Monday at the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles.

According to an FBI affidavit, Domingo planned in March and April “to manufacture and use a weapon of mass destruction in order to commit mass murder.”

Investigators described Domingo purchasing several hundred nails to be used inside the bomb. He gave the nails to a person he believed was a collaborator, but who actually was the FBI agent.

FBI agents initially were alerted to Domingo after he made a series of online posts and had a series of discussions with an informant describing “his support for violent jihad and his aspiration to conduct an attack in the Los Angeles area.”

“There must be retribution,” Domingo wrote online in March following the shooting at a Christchurch, New Zealand mosque that killed 50 people.

FBI agents said Domingo considered a variety of targets — including police officers, churches and a military facility — but ultimately planned to set off an explosive device during what was anticipated to be a white nationalist rally at Bluff Park in Long Beach on Sunday.

The rally never actually materialized. A number of counter-protesters showed up in anticipation of the gathering.

Domingo also planned to target a rally in Huntington Beach on Saturday as a backup plan. The rally was organized by opponents of California’s sanctuary state law.

Reseda neighbor Nataly Lopez, 24, said it was "scary" to find out her neighbor was arrested on suspicion of plotting to carrying out a domestic terrorism bombing during a rally in Long Beach. Story soon @ladailynews pic.twitter.com/d2OfxAJRcw — Olga Grigoryants (@OlgaGrigory) April 29, 2019

Law enforcement officials declined to speculate on why he chose those rallies as targets. They did not say whether he intended to attack the counter-protesters at Sunday’s rally or the white supremacists who planned the event.

Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna said his department was notified of the FBI’s investigation into Domingo in the weeks leading up to the rally. He said he believed the suspect simply wanted to cause as much chaos as possible.

“Any time we have an event like this, this is always in the back of our minds, ” Luna said. “He was just looking for crowds of people.”

According to the court papers, Domingo went for a drive with the FBI source, pointing out potential targets along the way — police cars, churches and a National Guard armory.

While they drove through one street, Domingo said he wanted to target Jewish people shopping there on a Saturday.

“Your plan is just to go and get caught,” the source said, according to the affidavit. “That’s your plan.”

“Martyrdom, bro,” Domingo replied.

At first, Domingo plotted to use several firearms to attack people, including an AK-47 rifle.

“I have several magazines,” he said, according to the affidavit.

According to his brother who spoke with reporters Monday, Domingo converted to Islam in late 2018 or early 2019.

Court papers showed Domingo was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky while in the Army. He deployed to Afghanistan from September 2012 to January 2013.

In a court Monday, Domingo appeared in a light gray T-shirt and dark gray jeans, with thick-rimmed black glasses, long hair and a beard.

As he sat in a defendant holding area, he pushed up his glasses as he shifted his weight. He said “yes” to each of Judge Paul Abrams questions.

Abrams ordered Domingo to be held in prison while he awaited trial, saying he posted a significant risk to the safety of the public.

Domingo will next appear in court on May 31 to enter his plea. He was ordered held without bail.

At an afternoon news conference, federal officials said Domingo had no known co-conspirators, and there is no lingering threat to the public from the plot.

Hundreds came to Bluff Park in Long Beach on Sunday, to show opposition to an event that groups on social media said had “white nationalist” ties.

Warnings of a ‘white nationalist’ rally first surfaced in March, when a right-wing Facebook group called United Patriot National Front created an event called “Freedom’s Safest Place.”

The Facebook group, which has since changed its name to Everything Patriot and Tactical, describes itself as “a page for freedom-loving Americans.”

But the event was deleted after community groups, particularly the Long Beach United Anti-Racist Neighborhood Front, built opposition to the rally. A counter protest organized by that group and others, called “No White Nationalism in Long Beach!” was scheduled for the same day.

For the past few weeks leading up to the event, social media posts promoted the counter protest, in addition to fliers throughout the city.

While many attended the counter protest at Bluff Park, there was no visible presence of members of the “Freedom’s Safest Place” event. The counter protest was relatively peaceful, with a strong presence by the Long Beach Police Department.

The department made their presence known by vehicle, bicycle and helicopter patrols. Parking on Ocean Boulevard — which Bluff Park runs parallel with — was prohibited for the majority of the day.

The arrest “took a highly dangerous person off the street who wanted to cause enormous harm to Long Beach and our community,” Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement released Monday by the city.

“We take every threat seriously and I’m incredibly thankful for the work of the Long Beach Police Department and our law enforcement partners, especially the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI.”