At mosque, suspect’s views led to ouster

“We said, ‘Look, that’s not going to work here,’ ’’ said Atif Harden, director of institutional advancement at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center. “I can’t think of a mosque where he was welcome. He was clearly way out of step with the rest of the Muslim community … very disaffected, very disturbed. Just a bitter, angry guy.’’

The account of Ferdaus’s extreme views came as he was indicted yesterday in federal court on charges of attempting to damage and destroy a federal building by means of an explosive, attempting to damage and destroy national defense premises, receiving firearms and explosive materials, and attempting to provide material support to terrorists and terrorist organizations. He faces life in prison and is slated to appear Monday in US District Court in Worcester.

Prosecutors say that Ferdaus, 26, a US citizen who holds a physics degree from Northeastern University, had hatched a plan to launch three explosive-laden, remote-controlled planes, each the size of an adult’s body, into the Pentagon and the US Capitol “to kill as many people as possible.’’ He allegedly planned to launch them from East Potomac Park, and a six-man team would then shoot at anyone fleeing the buildings.

“Once we cut off the military, we can take care of the politicians,’’ he allegedly told undercover agents.

Prosecutors say Ferdaus delivered detailed plans of the attack in the spring to two FBI agents who were posing as Al Qaeda recruiters, and he asked for their help in acquiring the planes, C-4 explosives, and AK-47 assault rifles. He acquired one plane in August. The agents delivered the guns and 25 pounds of explosives Wednesday to Ferdaus, who put them in a storage unit he had rented in Framingham. Once he closed the doors to the unit, the agents arrested him.