Hasher Jallal Taheb, who lived in Cumming, apparently was planning to carry out the attacks this week, but he was stopped when he was arrested in the parking lot in Buford on Wednesday.

"He is in the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Service right now," said U.S. Attorney BJay Pak. "He is held over in custody until...a detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 24."

The FBI became aware of Taheb's plans to attack federal locations when they were given a tip in March 2018. They began following Taheb's activities at that time and eventually were able to catch him as he planned to make a trip to Washington. Federal authorities said he traded his vehicle for explosives, which had been disarmed by undercover agents.

Pak said Forsyth County authorities had had some run-ins with Taheb in the past, but he did not say why.

"I'm not at liberty to say because that's not in the public record, but let's just say he was known to local law enforcement," Pak said.

Pak said there was no evidence Taheb planned attacks on any places in North Georgia.