NEW YORK, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Four men accused of an alleged terror plot to detonate a car with explosives outside a synagogue in New York and shoot down military planes were brought to a federal court here Thursday.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Wednesday night arrested 55-year-old James Cromitie, 28-year-old David Williams, 32-year-old Onta Williams and LaGuerre Payen.

    The arrests came after a year-long investigation by the FBI, city and state police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

    The alleged terrorists were assigned council during a hearing. They did not enter a plea or seek bail, but they all face potential life prison sentences, according to local media.

    A federal prosecutor described the men as extremely violent, saying that they were "eager to bring death to Jews."

    Officials say three of the so-called "homegrown terrorists" are U.S. citizens and one is Haitian. They also say Cromitie is believed to be of Afghan descent.

    All the accused are charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and conspiracy to acquire and use antiaircraft missiles, says the U.S. Attorney's office.