The Justice Department released the below information on October 8th:
The Justice Department today announced charges against a citizen
of Afghanistan residing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for conspiring to conduct
an Election Day terrorist attack in the United States on behalf of the Islamic
State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization
(FTO).
According to a criminal complaint filed today, Nasir Ahmad
Tawhedi, 27, conspired and attempted to provide material support to ISIS and
obtained firearms and ammunition to conduct a violent attack on U.S. soil in
the name of ISIS. As part of the plot, the defendant 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.
“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,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
“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 seek to terrorize the American people. I am
deeply grateful to the public servants of the FBI, National Security Division,
and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma for their work
to disrupt this attack and for the work they do every day to protect our
country.”
“This defendant, motivated by ISIS, allegedly conspired to
commit a violent attack, on Election Day, here on our homeland," said FBI
Director Christopher Wray. "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."
“Thanks to the relentless efforts of the FBI, National Security
Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and federal prosecutors in my office, the
alleged plan to commit an attack on Election Day was disrupted and Mr. Tawhedi
was arrested,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District
of Oklahoma. “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 the criminal complaint, as part of the
investigation into Tawhedi, the FBI searched Tawhedi’s phone and obtained
communications between Tawhedi 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. Tawhedi was
also seen in a video recorded on July 20 reading to two children text that
describes the rewards a martyr receives in the afterlife. Tawhedi also
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.
The complaint alleges that while liquidating their family’s
assets prior to the attack, Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, who is a juvenile,
advertised the sale of the 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.
According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 7, 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, ten magazines, and 500 rounds of ammunition. Upon receipt of the rifles
and ammunition, 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,
Tawhedi 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.
Tawhedi was charged with conspiring and attempting to provide
material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years,
and receiving a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of
terrorism, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, if convicted.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Oklahoma City Field
Office, with valuable assistance from the Oklahoma City Police Department and
the Moore, Oklahoma Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry, Matt Dillon, and Mark
Stoneman for the Western District of Oklahoma and Trial Attorneys George C.
Kraehe and Everett McMillian of the National Security Division’s
Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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