Four men from Orange County, N.Y. were arrested Wednesday night and accused of masterminding a plot that targeted a synagogue, a Jewish center and military aircraft.

According to prosecutors, James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams and LeGuerre Payen, all U.S. citizens, were taken into custody at around 9 p.m. after planting what they thought were bombs in cars parked outside Riverdale Temple and the Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx. Authorities say the four suspects also planned to use guided missiles to shoot down military planes at the New York Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport near Newburgh.

Authorities say as the men tried to obtain weapons for the attack, they worked with an FBI informant, who provided the group with an inactive missile and 30 pounds of inert explosives.

The four suspects, who have extensive criminal records, were charged with conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction and conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles. During a court appearance in White Plains, Judge Lisa Margaret Smith reminded the four suspects of their rights and appointed them attorneys. None of the defense attorneys, however, requested bail.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters Cromite, the alleged leader of the terror plot, wanted to commit jihad because he was upset about the war in Afghanistan.

During a news conference Thursday morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was optimistic about what the arrests mean for New York City.

"I think we're as safe today as we have been ever before," he says. "The police department continues to make us safe, and the fact that they stopped this, I think, is evidence of that."

Across the Hudson River, New Jersey residents were shocked by news of the alleged terror plot.

"This is an incident you expect to have in the Middle East, not here," says Samuel Davidovich, of Englewood.

The four suspects are being held at the Westchester County Jail. They are scheduled to appear in court June 5. If convicted, the four men will face a maximum of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 20 years behind bars.