The Justice Department has announced the arrest of an American for attempting to set off a bomb in downtown Chicago over the weekend.

Sami Samir Hassoun, a 22-year-old Chicago man, was arrested early Sunday morning by agents with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. Hassoun reportedly placed a backpack which he thought contained a bomb into a garbage can and left the area intending for it to blow up. An FBI informant gave Hassoun the backpack and the bomb itself was inert, the statement said.

Prior to settling on the city target, Hassoun allegedly discussed a number of plots including a biological attack on the city, poisoning Lake Michigan, attacking police officers, bombing the Sears Tower, and assassinating the mayor.

Hassoun appeared in court on Monday, where he was charged with charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. If convicted, he could face life in prison.