The US Department of Justice has arrested an Afghan man, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, who is accused of planning an Election Day attack in the name of the Islamic State (Daesh).
Tawhedi, a resident of Oklahoma City, was allegedly plotting a violent assault on US soil, according to FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Prosecutors claim Tawhedi was stockpiling firearms and had made efforts to liquidate his family's assets while preparing to move them abroad. He faces charges of providing, attempting to provide, and conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization, as well as trying to acquire firearms for an act of terrorism.
Authorities said Tawhedi conspired with a juvenile relative, also from Afghanistan, and consumed ISIS propaganda online. He allegedly donated to a charity serving as a front for ISIS.
Tawhedi reportedly sought AK-47 rifles for the attack and met undercover FBI agents on October 7 to purchase weapons and ammunition, leading to his arrest. In a post-arrest interview, he allegedly confirmed his plan to carry out an Election Day attack targeting large crowds, intending to die in the process.
Tawhedi entered the US in September 2021 on a special immigrant visa with his wife and child. He was living in Oklahoma City at the time of his arrest, and it remains unclear if he has legal representation.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the continued effort to combat threats posed by ISIS and its supporters, underscoring the commitment to investigate and prosecute individuals who seek to harm U.S. national security.
