An Afghan national residing in Oklahoma City, identified as Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, has been charged with plotting a terror attack in the United States on Election Day. According to the US Justice Department, Tawhedi, 27, allegedly conspired and attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The accusations against Tawhedi are serious and disturbing, alleging that he took steps to acquire firearms and ammunition for the intended attack. He reportedly also liquidated his family’s assets, relocated his family members abroad, and acquired AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition.
The investigation revealed that Tawhedi actively engaged in pro-ISIS activities, including accessing and saving ISIS propaganda on his online accounts, participating in pro-ISIS Telegram groups, and contributing to a charity that funnels money to ISIS. The criminal complaint even includes a video of Tawhedi reading text to two children about the rewards martyrs receive in the afterlife.
The Justice Department claims to have thwarted Tawhedi’s alleged plot to acquire semi-automatic weapons and carry out a violent attack on US soil on Election Day. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “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.”
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of former President Donald Trump, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news, claiming that his father has “been proven right” about the dangers of immigration. Trump Jr. highlighted that Tawhedi entered the United States on a “special immigrant visa” in September 2021.
If convicted, Tawhedi faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, and a maximum of 15 years for receiving a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism. This case underscores the ongoing threat of terrorism and the importance of vigilance in protecting national security.
