An Afghan national, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, was apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday under allegations of orchestrating a terrorist plot intended for Election Day.
Tawhedi, 27, was granted entry into the United States as a special immigrant in the wake of the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in September 2021. His arrival coincided with the tumultuous and ill-managed withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan under the Biden-Harris administration, a move that resulted in the tragic loss of 13 American service members and left billions of dollars' worth of military equipment at the mercy of the Taliban.
According to The Post Millennial, Tawhedi has been indicted by the FBI on charges of conspiracy and attempted provision of material support to the Islamic State group. It is alleged that Tawhedi, along with a minor accomplice, had planned a terrorist attack on Election Day, targeting large gatherings and expecting to meet their end as Islamic martyrs. Reports suggest that Tawhedi had settled his affairs, liquidated his assets, and purchased a one-way ticket for his wife and child to return to Afghanistan. If found guilty of all charges, Tawhedi could face up to 35 years in prison.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, in a press release from the Department of Justice, stated, As charged, the Justice Department foiled the defendants plot to acquire semi-automatic weapons and commit a violent attack in the name of ISIS on U.S. soil on Election Day. He further pledged to continue the fight against the persistent threat that ISIS and its supporters pose to America's national security, vowing to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to terrorize the American people. Garland expressed his deep gratitude to the public servants of the FBI, National Security Division, and U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Oklahoma for their efforts to thwart this attack and for their daily commitment to safeguarding the nation.
FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed Garland's sentiments, stating, "This defendant, motivated by ISIS, allegedly conspired to commit a violent attack, on Election Day, here on our homeland. I am proud of the men and women of the FBI who uncovered and stopped the plot before anyone was harmed. Terrorism is still the FBI's number one priority, and we will use every resource to protect the American people."
The FBI reportedly apprehended Tawhedi and the minor accomplice on October 7 at a rural location in the Western District of Oklahoma. The DOJ news release detailed that they had "purchased, received, and took possession of two AK-47 assault rifles, ten magazines, and 500 rounds of ammunition.
Upon receipt of the weapons and ammunition, Tawhedi and the minor were promptly arrested. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism and the importance of vigilant security measures to protect the American people.
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