Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi is charged with plotting an Election Day terror attack.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Federal prosecutors with the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against an Afghan national living in Oklahoma City for conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack on behalf of ISIS.
According to NBC News,
the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi was arrested
on Monday, October 7th, for his connection with conspiracy and
attempting to provide material support to ISIS an getting firearms and
ammunition to execute a violent attack in the United States on behalf of
the terrorist group. Court documents show that Tawhedi has been charged
with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack on Election Day.
He made his initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday, October 8th,
in Oklahoma City before U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell.
According to the DOJ, "as part of the plot, Tawhedi allegedly took steps
to liquidate his family's assets, resettle members of his family
overseas, acquire AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, and commit a
terrorist attack in the United States."
The criminal complaint states that the FBI searched Tawhedi's phone and
obtained communication between him and a person who facilitated
recruitment, training, and indoctrination of persons who expressed
interest in terrorist activity and who Tawhedi understood to be
affiliated with ISIS. He was also seen in a video recorded on July 20th
reading to two children text that described the rewards a martyr
receives in the afterlife in the Islamic religion
The criminal complaint also states that Tawhedi allegedly accessed,
viewed, and saved ISIS propaganda on his iCloud and Google account,
participated in pro-ISIS Telegram groups, and contributed to a charity
which fronts for and funnels money to ISIS.
Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, who is a juvenile, advertised the sale
of Tawhedi's family's personal property on Facebook. At the FBI's
direction, a confidential human source responded to inquire if a
computer was still for sale. The FBI source noted that he needed the
computer for a new gun business he was starting, which ultimately led
Tawhedi and the juvenile to meet with the source and other FBI assets at
a rural location to test firearms. Tawhedi expressed interest in
purchasing two AK-47 assault rifles, magazines, and ammunition from the
source.
On October 7th, Tawhedi and the juvenile met with the FBI assets at a
rural location in the Western District of Oklahoma and purchased,
received and took possession of two AK-47 assault rifles, 10 magazines,
and 500 rounds of ammunition. Upon receiving those items, Tawhedi and
the juvenile were arrested.
In his seized communications, Tawhedi allegedly indicated that his
attack was planned for Election Day and in a post-arrest interview, he
allegedly confirmed the attack was planned for Election Day targeting
large gatherings of people, during which he and the juvenile were
expected to die as martyrs. If convicted, Tawhedi's charges of
conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS carry a
maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and receiving a firearm to be used
to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism carries a maximum
prison sentence of 15 years.
In a statement, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said, "As charged,
the Justice Department foiled the defendant's plot to acquire
semi-automatic weapons and commit a violent attack in the name of ISIS
on U.S. soil on Election Day. We will continue to combat the ongoing
threat that ISIS and its supporters pose to America's national security,
and we will identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals who
see to terrorize the American people."
U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma
said, "Thank to the relentless efforts of the FBI, National Security
Division's Counterterrorism Section, and federal prosecutors on my
officer, the alleged plan to commit an attack on Election Day was
disrupted and Mr. Tawhedi was arrested. Fighting terrorism remains the
top priority of the Justice Department. We will continue to pursue,
disrupt, and hold accountable those who plot to commit acts of terrorism
against our country and our people."
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