Afghan Citizen Planned Terrorist Attacks on Election Day

An Afghan citizen has been arrested in Oklahoma City for suspicion of conspiring to commit a terrorist attack during the November U.S. elections on behalf of the terrorist organization the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, conspired to provide ISIS with weapons and material support to conduct a possible attack on U.S. soil, according to a criminal complaint filed this week.

Tawhedi also allegedly attempted to liquidate his family’s assets, resettle members of his family overseas and acquire AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, the Department of Justice announced.

While liquidating his family’s assets prior to the attack, Tawhedi and a co-conspirator, who is a juvenile, advertised the family’s personal property on Facebook. A confidential source inquired about a computer for what the source said was a new gun business he was starting, which ultimately led Tawhedi and the juvenile to meet with the source to test firearms. Tawhedi expressed interest in purchasing two AK-47 assault rifles, magazines, and ammunition from the source, according to investigators.

Tawhedi and the juvenile later met with the FBI assets at a rural location in the Western District of Oklahoma and purchased and took possession of two AK-47 assault rifles, 10 magazines and 500 rounds of ammunition. Upon receipt of the rifles and ammunition, Tawhedi and the juvenile were arrested, investigators say.

In seized communications, Tawhedi allegedly said the attack was planned for election day, which he reportedly confirmed in a post-arrest interview. Tawhedi was reportedly targeting large gatherings of people, during which he and the juvenile were expected to die as martyrs.

Investigators reportedly searched Tahwedi’s phone and found communications with someone who is believed to be an ISIS member, as well as messages sent to ISIS groups showing support and monetary donations.

Tawhedi was charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. He was also charged with 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.

The case is being investigated by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, with assistance from the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Moore 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.