WASHINGTON — In a significant development, the FBI has apprehended an Afghan national who allegedly plotted a violent attack inspired by the Islamic State militant group, targeting crowds in the U.S. on Election Day. The Justice Department announced the arrest on Tuesday.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, from Oklahoma City, reportedly confessed to investigators following his arrest on Monday, indicating that he had organized his attack to coincide with the upcoming Election Day and expressed intentions to die as a martyr, as outlined in the charging documents.
Having arrived in the U.S. in 2021, Tawhedi allegedly took decisive steps in recent weeks to facilitate his attack, including purchasing AK-47 rifles, liquidating family assets, and securing one-way tickets for his wife and child to return to Afghanistan.
This arrest highlights the FBI’s heightened focus on potential extremist violence, with Director Christopher Wray recently expressing concern over multiple simultaneous threats across the nation.
“Terrorism remains the FBI’s top priority, and we are committed to utilizing every available resource to safeguard the American people,” Wray stated.
An FBI affidavit sheds light on Tawhedi’s journey to being a person of interest, although it does not unravel the specific circumstances that drew investigators’ attention. Notably, a photograph taken in July depicted him reading to two young children, including his daughter, a text glorifying martyrdom.
Authorities report Tawhedi engaged with Islamic State propaganda, contributed to a charity connected to the group, and had communications with an individual identified in a previous FBI investigation as being involved in recruitment efforts. In addition, he was noted to be monitoring live webcams of the White House and the Washington Monument during July.
The Justice Department has not disclosed the identity of Tawhedi’s alleged co-conspirator, describing them simply as a juvenile Afghan national and the brother of Tawhedi’s wife.
Following their postings of personal property for sale on social media last month, the FBI utilized an informant to establish contact, which led to an invitation to a gun range where Tawhedi ordered weapons through an undercover agent.
Tawhedi was arrested after receiving two AK-47 rifles and ammunition. His alleged co-conspirator was also taken into custody, but the details remain unspecified due to their juvenile status.
Post-arrest, Tawhedi relayed to investigators his plan to carry out an attack on Election Day aimed at large public gatherings.
He now faces charges for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State, a designation recognized as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. federal authorities. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
It is currently unclear whether Tawhedi has legal representation. A message has been left with the local federal public defender’s office, while no contact details for Tawhedi or his relatives are available in public records.
Arriving in the U.S. via a special immigrant visa, Tawhedi was part of a program designed to assist eligible Afghans who aided American efforts despite significant personal risks. This program has witnessed increased applications following the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
