Ashland Man Accused In Terror Plot Seeks Bail

Prosecutors say a Massachusetts man accused of plotting to fly remote-controlled model planes packed with explosives into the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol was a "ticking time bomb" who was caught before he could carry out his plan.

Defense attorneys for Rezwan Ferdaus, however, say he is a "mentally troubled" man who had a "completely unrealistic fantasy."

"What the government did is take someone who is mentally troubled and has fantasies, [defense lawyer Miriam] Conrad told the judge, and exploit them through government agents," WBUR's David Boeri reported.

"She told the judge that with proper treatment and medication, Ferdaus would be no danger to the community," Boeri said. "[He] would be no danger unless al-Qaida shows up at his door with an AK-47."

The descriptions came during a detention hearing Monday in U.S. District Court in Worcester.

Ferdaus' lawyers are asking that the 26-year-old be released on bail and placed in the custody of his father while he awaits trial.

Prosecutors, however, argue that Ferdaus is dangerous and should be locked up until trial.

Ferdaus was arrested in September after law enforcement agents posing as al-Qaida members delivered what he believed was C-4 explosive.

With reporting by The Associated Press and WBUR's David Boeri