Local

Volusia County inmate threatened to bomb FBI headquarters, deputies say

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — An 18-year-old who threatened to blow up several buildings, including the Orlando International Airport and the Amway Center, is facing more charges after deputies said he wrote up a detailed plan to bomb the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Jacksonville.

Deputies said Ethan Russell made the threats from jail in a letter to his mother.

Officials believe Russell used the jail email system to lay out the plan to bomb the building and also use a sniper rifle on people who would flee the building, writing in part, "When they get in the line of fire, I will pick them out one by one," according to the letter.

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Deputies said Russell also vowed to join a terrorist organization or start his own violent attacks across the world.

Records show Russell was initially booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail after a neighbor saw him breaking into a home carrying seven knives and wearing a mask.

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.