The FBI says it has thwarted a planned terrorist attack on John F. Kennedy Airport.

Three men have been arrested and a fourth, Abdel Nur, is being sought in the Caribbean.

Federal officials say the men planned to detonate a fuel supply line that carried fuel from New Jersey to the Queens airport. Officials say the plot was being engineered to kill thousands and economically devastate the country.

FBI officials say that the plot planned to also target citizens in Queens since the fuel line runs through residential neighborhoods in the area.

One of the alleged terrorists, Russell Defreitas, is a retired JFK employee and U.S. citizen. Officials say he first developed his attack over ten years ago during his tenure as a cargo handler. He is currently in custody in Brooklyn.

Abdul Kadir of Guyana and Kareem Ibrahim of are in custody in Trinidad while authorities hunt a fourth man, Abdel Nur.

Defreitas will in court on Wednesday for a bail hearing. His attorney says he?ll be held in custody until then.

Mayor Bloomberg says New Yorkers should be comforted that counterterrorism officials were able to stop the attack before it could do any harm.

AP wire reports contributed to this article.