On Tuesday, October 8, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of an Afghan citizen, accusing him of conspiring on behalf of the Islamic State (ISIS) to launch a terrorist attack on the day of the U.S. election.
The 27-year-old man, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, currently resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to court records, he appeared in federal court for the first time on Tuesday but did not plead guilty.
The indictment charges Tawhedi with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), and obtaining firearms and ammunition to carry out violent attacks in the United States in the name of ISIS.
As part of the plot, the defendant allegedly planned a series of steps, including selling family assets such as homes, relocating family members back to Afghanistan, purchasing AK-47 rifles and ammunition, and carrying out terror attacks in the U.S.
During this time, Tawhedi reportedly searched online for information on how to access security cameras in Washington, D.C., as well as which states do not require permits to obtain firearms. He also viewed live webcams of the White House and the Washington Monument.
On Monday, October 7, Tawhedi and an underage accomplice (his brother-in-law) met with an undercover FBI agent to purchase and receive two AK-47 automatic rifles, 10 magazines, and 500 rounds of ammunition. Both were arrested on the spot.
Tawhedi admitted after his arrest that the attack plan targeted large crowds, with him and his accomplice expecting to martyr themselves in the attack.
The FBI searched Tawhedi’s phone and obtained communications between Tawhedi and an individual assisting in recruiting, training, and instilling interest in terrorist activities.
Tawhedi is said to have accessed, viewed, and saved ISIS propaganda materials through iCloud and Google accounts, joined Telegram groups supporting ISIS, and made donations to an organization providing financial support to ISIS.
Tawhedi entered the U.S. in September 2021 with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), a program limited to Afghan nationals employed in U.S. military programs and their families. The Department of Justice did not provide further information on this matter.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated in a release, “We will continue to combat the ongoing threat that ISIS and its supporters pose to the national security of the United States, investigating and prosecuting those who attempt to intimidate the American people.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray declared, “Counterterrorism remains the FBI’s top priority, and we will utilize all resources to safeguard the security of the American people.”
A recent assessment released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last Wednesday, October 2, indicates that due to factors such as the 2024 election cycle and conflicts like the Gaza war, the threat environment in the U.S. is expected to remain elevated in the coming year.
The annual assessment states, “Lone actors and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat. Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda, still intend to carry out or incite attacks on U.S. soil.”