A New York man suspected of plotting to help ISIS attacked law enforcement agents with a knife early Wednesday as they conducted one of several ongoing anti-terror operations against ISIS sympathizers in the U.S., authorities said.
"Saleh stated that Mumuni planned to travel to the Islamic State and also expressed his intent to attack members of law enforcement who have been performing surveillance on Mumuni."
No one on the Joint Terrorism Task Force team, made up of state, local and federal law enforcement agents, was hurt in the attack allegedly carried out by Fareed Mumuni just a day after another New York man, Munther Saleh, was charged with plotting to make a pressure cooker bomb. Authorities believe Saleh and Mumuni were working together, and both allegedly told police they "had pledged allegiance" to ISIS.
"Saleh stated that Mumuni planned to travel to the Islamic State and also expressed his intent to attack members of law enforcement who have been performing surveillance on Mumuni," federal prosecutors wrote in a letter urging a Brooklyn federal judge to jail Mumuni pending trial.
A federal law enforcement source told Fox News that anti-terrorism investigators are building numerous cases and expect several federal indictments in the coming weeks before July 4. Each of the cases involve homegrown extremists radicalized through social media, said the source.
In the last two weeks, Department of Justice prosecutors have brought indictments against at least five terror suspects.
Charges were expected to be filed against the Mumuni, who lives in Staten Island, in Brooklyn Federal Court later Wednesday.
Anthony Ricco, Mumuni's lawyer, identified his client as an American citizen, and said he will enter a not guilty plea. Family members were at the courthouse.
Mumuni waived his Miranda rights and told investigators after his arrest that if he was unable to travel to ISIS-controlled territories, he intended to attack law enforcement officers, the complaint said. He also allegedly admitted to keeping the knife wrapped in a T-shirt in his bed in the event that he could attack an FBI agent.
Saleh, 20, searched the Internet for information about pressure-cooker bombs and city landmarks and tourist attractions, according to a complaint. Counter-terrorism agents were tailing his car on June 7 when they arrested him and an unnamed co-conspirator.
The ongoing spate of takedowns of accused ISIS sympathizers underscores the danger posed by "lone wolves," angry radicals waiting for instruction and inspiration from ISIS via social media, according to authorities. ISIShas repeatedly called on followers in the U.S. to attack law enforcement or military installations.
Earlier this month, a Boston man-- believed to be plotting with another suspect to behead a cop-- was shot and killed by police near a CVS. Authorities said they were monitoring three different people in the Boston area.
Fox News' Matthew Dean, Edmund DeMarche and The Associated Press contributed to this report
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