CLEVELAND/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Ohio man arrested on suspicion of planning to detonate a bomb at Cleveland’s Fourth of July celebrations and then stand by and watch “it go off” was granted a public defender on Monday during his initial court appearance. Pitts, a U.S. citizen and Philadelphia native who had expressed allegiance to the al Qaeda militant group, intended to target other locations in Cleveland and Philadelphia, the agency said. CLEVELAND – The FBI is expected to release details Monday of “an individual being charged with attempted material support of a foreign terrorist organization for planning an attack on July 4 in downtown Cleveland.”

Authorities will reveal more information on the arrest during a news conference at 9:15 a.m. FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Anthony, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman, Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams and officials from the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force will be at the 9:15 a.m. press conference.
FBI agents arrest a Cleveland man they say told an undercover agent he was planning to bomb a July 4th celebration.