MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The FBI believes authorities disrupted "a localized terror attack" in its planning stages when they arrested a man after converging on a western Minnesota mobile home that contained Molotov cocktails, suspected pipe bombs and firearms, the agency said Monday.

Buford Rogers, 24, of Montevideo, was arrested Friday and charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He remained in federal custody Monday and it was not clear if he had an attorney.

"The FBI believed there was a terror attack in its planning stages, and we believe there would have been a localized terror attack, and that's why law enforcement moved quickly to execute the search warrant on Friday to arrest Mr. Rogers," FBI spokesman Kyle Loven said Monday.

Loven declined to elaborate about the location of the alleged target, other than to say it was believed to be in Montevideo, a city of about 5,000 people about 130 miles west of Minneapolis. He also declined to say whether Rogers was believed to be acting alone or as part of a group, or if other arrests were expected.

"This is a very active investigation," he said.

In a news release Monday, the FBI said it believed "the lives of several local residents were potentially saved" by the search and arrest, and said "several guns and explosive devices were discovered." The agency said the alleged terror plot was discovered through analysis of intelligence gathered by local, state and federal authorities.

"Cooperation between the FBI and its federal, state, and local partners enabled law enforcement to prevent a potential tragedy in Montevideo," Christopher Warrener, the special agent in charge of the FBI office in Minneapolis, said in the release.

According to a federal affidavit obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, FBI agents from the domestic terrorism squad searched the property at the mobile home park in Montevideo and discovered the Molotov cocktails, suspected pipe bombs and firearms. The affidavit said Buford was there at the time of the search, and one firearm recovered from Buford's residence was a Romanian AKM assault rifle.

In an interview with authorities, Rogers admitted firing the weapon on two separate occasions at a gun range in Granite Falls, the affidavit said. Rogers has a past conviction for felony burglary and is not allowed to have a firearm.

Rogers is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court this week.

Rogers' 2011 felony burglary conviction stems from an incident in Lac qui Parle County. He also has a 2009 misdemeanor conviction for dangerous handling of a weapon in Hennepin County, as well as other criminal violations, according to online court records.

 Easy E wrote:
As a Minnesota resident, a localized terror attack on what? In Montevideo?

 Coolyo294 wrote:

 Easy E wrote:
As a Minnesota resident, a localized terror attack on what? In Montevideo?

Indeed. To my knowledge, there's really nothing in Montevideo that would be a worthwhile terrorist target. It would make for more sense for a terrorist to hit, say, Target Field or the Mall of America.

 Easy E wrote:
As I hear more, it sounds like this guy was possibly part of a a Militia and had a beef with local government.

So, does that make him a terrorist or just an angry, mass murderer wannabe?

I thought to be a terrorist you needed some larger political cause other than, "I hate local zoning laws!"

 Ouze wrote:
You know, while radical jihadis in this country like to swing like hell for a home run every time, the homegrown, right wing types sure are content to just hit line drive after line drive; terroristically speaking.

 Easy E wrote:
Yeah, I think the word Terrorist has no meaning anymore. I'm not sure if it is good or bad.

In MN, this totally fell off the radar too after the Ohio House of Horrors story hit.

(ii) TERRORIST ACTIVITY DEFINED--As used in this Act, the term "terrorist activity" means any activity which is unlawful under the laws of the place where it is committed (or which, if committed in the United States, would be unlawful under the laws of the United States or any State) and which involves any of the following:
(I) The hijacking or sabotage of any conveyance (including an aircraft, vessel, or vehicle).
(II) The seizing or detaining, and threatening to kill, injure, or continue to detain, another individual in order to compel a third person (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the individual seized or detained.
(III) A violent attack upon an internationally protected person (as defined in section 1116(b)(4) of title 18, United States code) or upon the liberty of such a person.
(IV) An assassination.
(V) The use on any:
(a)biological agent, chemical agent, or nuclear weapon or device, or
(b) explosive or firearm (other than for mere personal monetary gain), with intent to endanger, directly or indirectly, the safety of one or more individuals or to cause substantial damage to property.
(VI) A threat, attempt, or conspiracy to do any of the foregoing.

 Grey Templar wrote:
So carjacking and slashing tires is an act of Terrorism?

 Grey Templar wrote:
Pretty sure Carjacking and Tire Slashing is illegal most places, which is all your definition requires.

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:
Pretty sure Carjacking and Tire Slashing is illegal most places, which is all your definition requires.

"Carjacking" is a recognized offense associated with robbery.
"Tire slashing" falls under the umbrella of vandalism.

So no, they're not "acts of terrorism".

 Grey Templar wrote:
It seems to me Terrorism is kinda like Obscenity. "I can't define it but I know it when I see it"

 Coolyo294 wrote:

 Easy E wrote:
As a Minnesota resident, a localized terror attack on what? In Montevideo?

Indeed. To my knowledge, there's really nothing in Montevideo that would be a worthwhile terrorist target. It would make for more sense for a terrorist to hit, say, Target Field or the Mall of America.

 Ratbarf wrote:

 Coolyo294 wrote:

 Easy E wrote:
As a Minnesota resident, a localized terror attack on what? In Montevideo?

Indeed. To my knowledge, there's really nothing in Montevideo that would be a worthwhile terrorist target. It would make for more sense for a terrorist to hit, say, Target Field or the Mall of America.

That's actually one thing I've never really understood about terrorists, they seem to go for the targets with high amounts of security and cultural impact, but really, if you wanted to bring America to its knees in fear you would want to hit the soft targets that have no significance aside from it being in America. Just look at Sandyhook and all the reactions to that. If terrorist cells started targeting things like school bus stops, schools, town halls, community sporting events, county fairs, or pretty much anything in a small out of the way sleepy town or suburb America would take a huge hit economically and socially due to the immense suspicion and fear it would cause.