Washington - US authorities in the north-eastern city of Boston announced Wednesday they have arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicions of planning terror attacks.

Boston prosecutor Michael Loucks identified the suspect as Tariq Mehanna, who was suspected of planning to carry out attacks, along with others, on shopping centres around the US.

The plans foresaw attacking people at random with automatic weapons, the prosecutor said.

In addition, Mehanna had visited terrorism training camps in Arab countries with the aim of carrying out attacks on US soldiers.

Mehanna would face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. (dpa)