A 21-year-old man appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday - charged with attempting to blow up the New York Federal Reserve Bank with a 1,000 pound bomb.

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 and a high-ranking government official - before focusing on the Federal Reserve Bank in lower Manhattan.

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

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"He comes here with, again the vowed purpose of committing some sort of Jihad here in the United States. He goes to the New York Stock Exchange he sees that there is significant security there and he shifts his target to the Federal Reserve Bank."

U.S. officials said the FBI arrested the Bangladeshi man after thwarting the bomb plot - in an undercover sting operation.

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

If convicted, Nafis could face life in prison.