Terror Plot: A Profile in Hatred

MYFOXNY.COM/AP - They met in prison, bonded over their hatred and allegedly planned to blow up two synagogues and take down a military plane.

But their mission was thwarted, officials said, and now these four men are behind bars.

Three of the suspects are American-born -- David Cromite, David Williams and Onta Williams. The fourth, Laguerre Payen, was born in Haiti.

Watch the report from Fox 5's Andrea Day (video, left).

They had explosives ready to go, police said, but the men had no idea their bombs were duds. The plans may have been hatched in Newburgh, N.Y. and drawn up in Philadelphia.

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The men do not appear to be affiliated with any known terrorist group.

Relatives said the defendants were down-on-their-luck men who worked at places like Wal-Mart, a landscaping company and a warehouse when they weren't behind bars. Payen's lawyer said he was "intellectually challenged" and on medication for schizophrenia.

Meantime, federal authorities say the four men tried to acquire explosives in Connecticut.

Prosecutors say the men thought they were working with Pakistani terrorists, but instead they were accompanied by an FBI informant who gave them inert explosives.

Authorities say James Cromitie, David Williams and Laguerre Payen visited a Stamford warehouse May 6 to examine the explosives and take them back to New York.

Authorities say a fourth suspect, Onta Williams, backed out of the trip because he believed they were being followed by law enforcement.

All four are charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction within the United States and conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles.

They face life in prison if convicted.

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