Harun Abdul-Malik Yener is charged with attempting to damage or destroy a building used in interstate commerce by means of an explosive.
According to the arrest affidavit from the Miami Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Yener, who's 30 years old, is unhoused and had unsuccessfully attempted to join the Proud Boys and the Boogaloo Boys — groups with deep political and cultural ties to Florida. According to the affidavit, during an unrecorded phone call with a confidential source in June, Yener said both groups rejected him because his interest in "martyrdom" made him "unsuitable."
The FBI opened its investigation in February in response to a tip that Yener was hoarding bomb-making plans in an unlocked Coral Springs storage unit. Yener granted permission for agents to search the unit, where they discovered bomb-making sketches, numerous watches with timers, electronic circuit boards, and other electronics... that could be used for constructing explosive devices."
In the storage unit, agents found spiral notebooks filled with bomb-making diagrams, sketches of landmines, and instructions for volatile chemical mixtures. When questioned, Yener admitted the drawings were of a "bouncing betty-style landmine" — a device designed to launch explosive shrapnel in the air.
While FBI experts dismissed some sketches as "consistent with doodling," others demonstrated a clear understanding of military-grade explosives.
By October, undercover agents who met with Yener had learned that he planned "to build and detonate an improvised explosive device outside the NYSE the week before Thanksgiving." In the agents' eyes, he believed that setting off the bomb would "lead to a 'reboot' and/or 'reset' of the United States government: 'The Stock Exchange, we want to hit that, because it will wake people up,'" Yener allegedly said.
Extremist Ties and Miami Connections
South Florida has its share of colorful characters and political drama, but Yener's path to extremism stands out. In 2015, according to court documents, he was contacted through Facebook Messenger by individuals claiming to represent ISIS. Though he briefly entertained joining, he ultimately declined, believing ISIS wouldn't succeed in its objectives. By 2024, Yener had shifted to domestic extremism, expressing interest in joining an anti-government militia and targeting the NYSE.
Beyond the bomb plot, the affidavit sketched out details of Yener's personal history.
For instance, he was fired from a Coconut Creek restaurant after allegedly threatening coworkers that he would "go Parkland shooter in this place."
He also spoke of gaining access to the NYSE by dressing up as a FedEx worker, mail carrier, businessman, or a delivery man for a florist.
Despite his erratic behavior, Yener was meticulous in his planning. In October, he tested explosive triggers using two-way radios and purchased bomb-making tools, including a soldering kit from a local Walmart. He even discussed wearing gloves, a beanie, and a bandana to avoid leaving "hair follicles" and other DNA evidence.
Yener's plans culminated in a series of audio recordings he prepared for the press, intended to be sent to NBC News on the day of the bombing or shortly after that. In one recording, Yener declared, "What you've just witnessed at the Stock Exchange... was just the beginning of a new era. A new revolution."
The statement, which he envisioned as the manifesto for his plot, included proclamations of war against the U.S. government and a call to action: "Our war is with the government. We ask and encourage others to follow suit in their pursuit for change."
As described in the affidavit, the creation of the recordings betrayed Yener's grandiose ambitions. Before pressing record, he allegedly remarked, "I feel like Bin Laden."
The text of the 25-page affidavit is attached below.
