An Iraqi man was arrested yesterday in Nashville after purchasing machine guns, hand grenades, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI agent—with the stated intention of “going jihad.” (Hat tip: Jheka.)

According to the affidavit, the investigation began in August after federal authorities were tipped by an acquaintance of Al-Uqaily that he was seeking to buy weapons.

According to the affidavit, Al-Uqaily told the acquaintance that he was angry about the state of affairs in Iraq, that he was “going Jihad,” and that he was going to blow up something.

In conversations over the next few weeks, Al-Uqaily pursued efforts with the informant to purchase machine guns, grenades, handguns and missiles. The informant set up a meeting with Al-Uqaily and the undercover agent, authorities said.

“This case underscores the significance of information and assistance provided to law enforcement by the good people of the United States,” Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wray said in a statement.

The affidavit says that during the later conversations with the informant, Al-Uqaily “expressed animosity towards the Jewish community” and discussed “two Jewish facilities in the Nashville area,” but made no specific threats, according to a release from the U.S. Justice Department. Authorities declined to say at a news conference on Friday what two Jewish facilities Al-Uqaily mentioned.

UPDATE at 10/9/04 11:53:04 am:

Peace activist and alleged would-be jihadi Ahmed Al-Uqaily had a previous 15 minutes of fame at Indymedia, dressing up as an Abu Ghraib prisoner: Tennessee Independent Media Center: newswire/2048. (Hat tip: aaron.)