FBI Foils Alleged ISIS-Backed Terror Plot Targeting Election Day in U.S.
The FBI arrested a 27-year-old man from Afghanistan in Oklahoma City who is accused of orchestrating a terrorist attack in support of ISIS on Election Day in the United States. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who recently arrived in the U.S. on a Special Immigrant Visa, appeared in federal court but did not enter a plea, and he is currently being held in custody.
Details of the Alleged Conspiracy
According to a federal criminal complaint, Tawhedi, along with co-conspirators including a minor relative, intended to execute a violent attack in the United States on behalf of ISIS. To further their plot, they allegedly took several preparatory steps such as attempting to sell their family home, considering relocating their families abroad, and acquiring firearms and ammunition.
“Their ultimate aim was to stage a violent attack in the United States in the name of ISIS,” prosecutors stated in court records.
Path to the U.S. and Early Suspension
Tawhedi traveled to the U.S. in September 2021, shortly after the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan. He is currently on parole as he awaits the outcome of his immigration proceedings. The Special Immigrant Visa program, administered by the U.S. State Department, was designed to assist individuals who had worked closely with U.S. forces as interpreters or in other support roles.
Evidence and Threats
FBI investigations uncovered Tawhedi’s engagement with ISIS propaganda, as he allegedly contributed funds in cryptocurrency to a charity associated with ISIS. Surveillance records revealed he had shown interest in monitoring security cameras in Washington, D.C., particularly those encompassing the White House and the Washington Monument. Additionally, he was reportedly on the lookout for relaxed gun laws to facilitate his attack.
Federal agents orchestrated undercover operations to monitor communications and actions taken by Tawhedi and his associates, which included publishing his family’s home for sale in order to fund their planned attack.
Planned Weapons Acquisition
Through direct messaging, Tawhedi expressed intentions to broaden their inventory of firearms, stating he had already acquired two Kalashnikov rifles and was in the process of procuring a significant ammunition supply. He inquired about the adequacy of his firepower in preparation for the designed attack.
As the plans intensified, he sought assistance to facilitate his family’s emigration to Afghanistan while revealing that they had sold their home for a substantial amount, indicating a motive to hastily relocate before the planned assault on Election Day, which he referred to as completing their “duty” in the name of ISIS.
A Burgeoning Threat to National Security
Director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, commended the agents involved in disrupting the alleged plot, noting the critical prevention of harm before it could be enacted. Garrett highlighted a pressing national security concern, indicating that the growing terrorist threat environment has taken a more complex and dangerous turn, exacerbated by tensions in the Middle East. Attorney General Merrick Garland reaffirmed the continuing commitment of federal authorities to confront and address the evolving threats posed by ISIS within the U.S.
