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."
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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