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Four men due in court Thursday to face charges of plotting to bomb Jewish sites and shoot down military planes were arrested after planting what they thought were explosive devices near a synagogue and community center, authorities say.

Federal authorities announced the arrests of James Cromitie — a.k.a “Abdul Rahman,” David Williams, Onta Williams and Laguerre Payen, all of Newburgh, on charges arising from a plot to detonate explosives near a synagogue in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, and to shoot military planes located at the New York Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport in Newburgh with Stinger surface-to-air guided missiles.

The suspects were arrested shortly after planting a mock explosive device in the trunk of a car outside the Riverdale Temple and two mock bombs in the backseat of a car outside the Jewish Center, authorities said.

Police blocked their escape with an 18-wheel truck, smashing their tinted SUV windows and while apprehending the unarmed suspects.

Meantime, New York City’s mayor and police commissioner reassured Bronx worshippers following the revelations that the four men plotted to bomb their Jewish temple.

Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Raymond Kelly met privately with congregants Thursday inside the Riverdale Temple. Kelly said neighborhood security was heightened to improve residents’ “comfort level.”

Kelly reiterated that the men allegedly “wanted to commit Jihad.” Bloomberg warned against stereotypes. The mayor stressed that the temple is open to people of all faiths, including a Muslim girl who sometimes prays there.

“They stated they wanted to commit jihad,” Kelly said. “They were disturbed about what was happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan, that Muslims were being killed. They made statements that if Jews were killed in this attack that would be all right.”

“One of them, the prime mover, James Cromitie, had an extensive criminal record,” Kelly said. The other three suspects also had criminal backgrounds, Kelly said.

Officials said the arrests came after a long-running undercover operation that began in Newburgh. Federal authorities tell CBS 2 HD the motive for the attack was revenge over the United States’ involvement in Afghanistan.

Cromitie, said to be the leader of the group, is the son of an Afghani immigrant and an African-American woman. It is that connection to Afghanistan, investigators say, and an unhappiness with America’s ongoing war efforts abroad that allegedly drove him to become a terrorist.

In their efforts to obtain weapons, the defendants dealt with an informant acting under law enforcement supervision, and the FBI and other agencies monitored the defendants’ actions up to the time of arrest, including providing an inactive missile and inert explosives to the informant for the defendants. The Feds told CBS 2 HD’s Lou Young they picked up the inert weapons at a meeting in Stamford, Conn., and during the last few days secured small arms, including assorted handguns.

The investigation had been under way for about a year.

In talking to the FBI informant, Cromitie expressed interest in one day returning to Afghanistan, of dying a “martyr” and wanting to do “something to America”. When discussing the best targets, Cromitie allegedly told the infomant, “the best target (the World Trade Center) was hit already. When the conversation turned to attacking a synagogue, Cromitie allegedly said, “I hate those Jewish “expletie.” I would like to get a synagogue.

“This latest attempt to attack our freedoms shows that the homeland security threats against New York City are sadly all too real and underscores why we must remain vigilant in our efforts to prevent terrorism,” New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement Wednesday night.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos taken – by Hillel Engel for YWN – at the Shul this morning.