The U.S. Justice Division has arrested a person it stated was planning an election day assault within the identify of the Islamic State.
The suspect, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, is an Afghan citizen dwelling in Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, in line with prosecutors.
“This defendant allegedly conspired, facilitated by the Islamic State, to launch a violent assault on our homeland on Election Day,” FBI Director Christopher Wray stated in an announcement Tuesday.
The FBI stated he was making an attempt to stockpile weapons and had taken steps to liquidate his household’s belongings and transfer members abroad.
Mr. Tawhedi is charged with offering, trying to supply, or conspiring to supply assist or sources to a international terrorist group; and trying to acquire firearms and ammunition to be used within the fee of a felony or act of terrorism.
The FBI stated Tawidi labored with an unnamed co-conspirator, a teenage relative and an Afghan citizen. It accuses him of consuming Islamic State propaganda on-line and donating to charities used as fronts for the Islamic State, in line with Google information obtained by regulation enforcement.
“We’ll proceed to fight the continuing menace posed by the Islamic State and its supporters to U.S. nationwide safety, and we’ll establish, examine and prosecute people who search to terrorize the American individuals,” stated Legal professional Normal Merrick Garland.
Authorities stated Mr. Tawidi was in search of an AK-47 assault rifle to make use of within the assault. On October 7, he and his co-conspirators met with individuals who had been really buying weapons and ammunition for undercover FBI brokers.
Following the acquisition, Mr Tawhedi and his co-conspirators had been arrested.
In an interview after his arrest on Monday, the FBI stated Tawidi allegedly confirmed he deliberate an assault on a “massive gathering” on Election Day and deliberate to die whereas finishing up the assault.
Mr. Tawhedi arrived in america together with his spouse and younger youngsters in September 2021 on a particular immigrant visa. He was dwelling in Oklahoma Metropolis on the time of his arrest.
It was unclear whether or not he had authorized illustration.