Federal prosecutors have accused a 27-year-old Afghan citizen of conspiring with ISIS and stockpiling weapons to launch an Election Day assault within the US.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi of Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma was allegedly planning to liquidate his household’s property and promote his household’s residence, resettle relations abroad, and purchase up AK-47 rifles and ammunition “to stage a violent assault in the USA within the title of and on behalf of ISIS,” in line with court docket paperwork unsealed on Tuesday.
In keeping with a legal criticism, Tawhedi and a co-conspirator, who’s a minor, met with an FBI informant in Oklahoma to purchase two AK-47s, 10 magazines and 500 rounds of ammunition.
They have been then arrested on October 7.
In communications reviewed by FBI brokers and connected within the legal criticism, Tawhedi allegedly stated he deliberate for an Election Day assault, then instructed brokers after his arrest that the assault was designed to focus on massive gatherings of individuals, throughout which he and his co-conspirator have been anticipated to die as martyrs.
Earlier than his arrest, Tawhedi — who entered the US on a particular immigrant visa in 2021— had seen ISIS propaganda and despatched cash to a company that “fronts for and funnels cash to ISIS,” in line with prosecutors.
He additionally carried out Google searches for “learn how to entry washington dc cameras” and state-level gun restrictions, together with which states have open-carry legal guidelines, in line with the affidavit.
Tawhedi additionally purchased one-way airfare for his spouse and little one to Kabul, in line with prosecutors.
He was charged with conspiring and making an attempt to supply materials help to ISIS, which carries a most jail sentence of 20 years, and receiving a firearm for use to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a most jail sentence of 15 years, if convicted.
It was not instantly clear whether or not he had retained a protection lawyer.
“As charged, the Justice Division foiled the defendant’s plot to amass semi-automatic weapons and commit a violent assault within the title of ISIS on US soil on Election Day,” Legal professional Basic Merrick Garland stated in an announcement.
“We are going to proceed to fight the continued risk that ISIS and its supporters pose to America’s nationwide safety, and we’ll determine, examine, and prosecute the people who search to terrorize the American individuals,” he added.
Garland and federal legislation enforcement officers have repeatedly warned towards the potential of election threats from international and home actors whereas vowing to guard election staff and the individuals who assist run the nation’s elections from abuse and violent harassment.
International adversaries are hoping to undermine People’ confidence within the legitimacy of election outcomes and amplifying US-born disinformation and false claims about fraud and the election course of, in line with intelligence officers.
US intelligence businesses count on international actors “to proceed their campaigns by calling into query the validity of the election’s outcomes after the polls shut,” an official instructed reporters on Monday.
They’re prone to exploit shut and contested races throughout the US to exacerbate divisions amongst People and undermine election integrity, officers stated.
Final month, federal legislation enforcement businesses seized 32 Russian-backed web sites that prosecutors say have been designed to sow disinformation and discord forward of 2024 elections and increase Donald Trump’s marketing campaign.
Individually, two workers of Russia’s state-controlled media community RT have been criminally charged with allegedly launching a $10 million propaganda scheme that enlisted in style right-wing social media influencers.