The FBI has arrested an Afghan citizen in Oklahoma City on charges of plotting a suicide attack on Election Day. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, planned to inflict mass casualties on behalf of the Islamic State. The criminal complaint reveals that Tawhedi liquidated his family’s financial assets to raise cash for resettling his relatives in Kabul.
He also recruited his underage nephew as a co-conspirator. Tawhedi intended to use two AK-47s for the attack. Tawhedi’s online history included searches on accessing public webcams in Washington, D.C., including those at the White House and the Washington Monument.
These searches coincided with his visits to the actual locations. Tawhedi communicated his plans to a man he believed to be an Islamic State member. “God willing, with the help of God, we will get ready for the election day,” Tawhedi wrote in one of the messages.
FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that the plot was uncovered and thwarted before any harm could occur. “FBI agents uncovered and stopped the plot before anyone was harmed,” said Wray.
FBI disrupts Election Day attack plot
Charges against other individuals connected to the plot may still be forthcoming, according to a law enforcement official. This case highlights ongoing threats and the importance of vigilance as the nation approaches significant events such as Election Day. The FBI has successfully thwarted an alleged terror plot inspired by ISIS and aimed at Election Day.
The agency has identified Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi as the suspect. Tawhedi was in the final stages of preparation for the attack, which he expected to execute on Election Day with the intention of dying in the process. Law enforcement sources suggest that the plot was sophisticated and posed a serious threat to public safety and the electoral process.
This interruption underscores ongoing concerns about homegrown extremism and the constant vigilance needed to protect national security, particularly around significant events such as elections. The FBI’s intervention in this case is a reminder of the ongoing threats posed by various extremist groups and the importance of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in preventing potential acts of terror. Election Day security has always been a high priority for national security agencies.
Public safety agencies will likely increase their vigilance and possibly deploy additional resources to protect voters and maintain the integrity of the electoral process. The successful disruption of this ISIS-inspired terror plot serves as a stark reminder of the threats that persist both domestically and internationally. It also emphasizes the critical role of continued intelligence and vigilance in safeguarding democratic institutions and public safety.
- NYTimes.”Afghan Man Arrested on Charges of Plotting Election Day Attack”.
- Go.”Video FBI foils alleged ISIS-inspired Election Day terror plot”.
- CNN.”Afghan national charged with Election Day terrorist plot in US”.