A 21-year-old man has appeared in federal court in Brooklyn after officials said he was charged with attempting to blow up the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the suspect - Quazi Mohammed Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis - faces charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to provide material support to al-Qaeda.

Officials said Nafis considered several targets for his attack - including the New York Stock Exchange - before focusing on the Federal Reserve Bank in lower Manhattan.

New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the suspect went to the U.S. in January on a student visa.

The explosives - provided by an undercover agent - did not work - which meant the public was never in danger.

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