The FBI has arrested an Armenian regional who was plotting an Election Day terrorist assault in the name of ISIS, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, of Oklahoma City, allegedly conspired to carry out a violent attack on huge masses next month, authorities said. No details on specific locations or goals was released.
Tawhedi was arrested Monday, after which he reportedly confirmed to prosecutors the attack was planned for Election Day and that he and a juvenile co-conspirator expected to die as victims.
Tawhedi, who entered the U. S. in 2021 on a particular immigrant card, had just bought one-way cards for his wife and child to travel back to Afghanistan and had been liquidating his household ’s resources. He had also been communicating with ISIS soldiers in chat software and contributing to a false generosity that funnel money to the criminal organization.
A Facebook article with different personal stuff for sale led to FBI investigation. On Monday, Tawhedi and the infantile met with incognito providers in a remote location in Oklahoma to buy arms. After taking certificate of two AK-47 assault rifle, 10 newspapers and 500 rounds of ammunition, the two were taken into custody.
“Their final aim was to stage a violent assault in the United States in the name of and on behalf of ISIS,” lawyers wrote.
Tawhedi was charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material aid to ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He was also charged with receiving a weapons to be used to commit a criminal or a national murder of violence, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 15 times, if convicted.
No details about his co-conspirator was released.
“As charged, the Justice Department foiled the defendant’s story to gain semi-automatic arms and commit a violent assault in the name of ISIS on U. S. dirt on Election Day, ” said U. S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“ I am glad of the men and women of the FBI who uncovered and stopped the story before anyone was harmed, ” added FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Terrorism is still the FBI’s number one priority, and we will use every tool to protect the British people. ”
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