The U.S. Department of Justice has arrested a man on suspicion of planning an attack on election day in the name of the Islamic State group.
According to prosecutors, the suspect is Nasir Ahmad Tauhedi, 27, an Afghan national who lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
"This defendant, motivated by ISIS, allegedly conspired to carry out a violent attack here in our country on Election Day,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement Tuesday.
The FBI said he was attempting to stockpile firearms and was taking steps to liquidate his family’s assets and move members overseas.
Mr. Tauhedi is charged with providing, attempting to provide, and conspiring to provide support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. It also includes attempting to procure firearms or ammunition for use in committing a felony or terrorist act.
The FBI said Tauhedi was working with an unnamed co-conspirator, a juvenile relative and an Afghan national. Based on Google records obtained by law enforcement, he accuses him of consuming Islamic State propaganda over the Internet and donating to charities used as fronts for the group.
“We continue to combat the continuing threat ISIS and its supporters pose to our national security, identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those who seek to terrorize the American people," said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “I will.”
According to the BBC’s news partner CBS, an affidavit from federal investigators alleges that Tawhidi searched surveillance cameras in Washington and webcams showing the White House and the Washington Monument. It also claims to have researched states with more lax gun laws.
Authorities allege Tauhedi was looking for an AK-47 assault rifle to use in the attack. On October 7, he and his co-conspirators met with people who were actually working undercover for the FBI to purchase weapons and ammunition.
After the purchase, Tauhedi and his co-conspirators were arrested.
In an interview conducted after his arrest on Monday, the FBI said Tawhidi allegedly admitted that he had planned an election day attack targeting a “large gathering of people” and intended to die during the execution. Ta.
Tauhedi arrived in the United States with his wife and young child on a special immigrant visa in September 2021. At the time of his arrest, he lived in Oklahoma City.
It was not immediately clear whether he has legal representation.
