The US authorities arrested a 27-year-old Afghan man, Nasser Ahmed Tawhedi, on October 7 in Oklahoma, accusing him of plotting a terrorist attack on US soil during the upcoming election day.
According to the US Department of Justice, Nasser Tawhedi was planning the attack in support of the Daesh terrorist group.
He arrived in the US in 2021 through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which allows Afghans and Iraqis who assisted US forces, such as translators, to resettle in the country.
He had been living in Oklahoma and, according to prosecutors, had researched how to bypass firearm license laws in various states to acquire weapons.
The criminal complaint, unsealed Tuesday, reveals that Tawhedi was attempting to gain access to live surveillance footage of key locations in Washington DC, including the White House and the Washington Monument.
He reportedly accessed this footage online and examined possible targets for the attack.
Prosecutors allege that Tawhedi, along with his juvenile brother-in-law, planned to carry out a mass shooting at a large public gathering, aiming to die in the process and achieve “martyrdom” for Daesh.
The younger brother-in-law was also arrested after attempting to buy two AK-47 assault rifles from an undercover FBI agent, believing the weapons would be used in their planned attack.
In addition to planning a mass casualty event, authorities claim that Nasser Tawhedi was in contact with an individual who facilitated recruitment and training for Daesh.
The FBI’s investigation uncovered communication between Nasser Tawhedi and this individual, indicating that the plot was part of a broader effort by Daesh supporters to carry out terrorist acts in the US.
Additionally, evidence from his phone and computer suggests Nasser Tawhedi had saved Daesh propaganda materials and participated in pro-ISIS online groups, including Telegram, a platform known for its use by extremist groups.
FBI agents also uncovered evidence of Nasser Tawhedi’s involvement with a charity that allegedly serves as a front to funnel money to Daesh.
This further adds to the charges against him, which include conspiracy to provide material support to Daesh, an offence carrying a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
He is also charged with attempting to receive firearms to be used in an act of terrorism, which could lead to an additional 15-year sentence if convicted.
The investigation also found that Nasser was recorded in a video from July, where he is seen reading to two children about the rewards a “martyr” would receive in the afterlife, reinforcing his extremist ideology.
Government response
Following the arrest, US Attorney General Merrick Garland released a statement praising law enforcement for disrupting the plot before it could be executed.
“The Justice Department foiled the defendant’s plot to acquire semi-automatic weapons and commit a violent attack in the name of ISIS (Daesh) on US soil on Election Day,” Merrick Garland said.
He also reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to preventing terrorism and pursuing those who threaten the security of the US.
FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed these sentiments, adding that countering terrorism remains the FBI’s top priority.
“Terrorism is still the FBI’s number one priority, and we will use every resource to protect the American people,” Christopher Wray said.
He emphasized that the FBI will continue to identify and prosecute individuals involved in planning terrorist acts within the US.
Nasser Tawhedi’s arrest has raised concerns over the continued influence of ISIS and its ability to recruit individuals across the globe, even as the group’s territorial control has been largely dismantled.
The case also highlights the FBI’s focus on monitoring extremist activity online, especially through encrypted platforms like Telegram, which are increasingly used by ISIS sympathisers.
Nasser Tawhedi now faces trial in Oklahoma, where he could receive a combined maximum prison sentence of 35 years if convicted on all charges.
