CNN —
The Justice Department announced Tuesday charges against an Afghan national for allegedly supporting ISIS and planning a terrorist attack on U.S. Election Day.
The FBI arrested 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad Tawhidi on Monday after purchasing a rifle and ammunition from an undercover agent in Oklahoma. He faces several charges, including conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.
Court documents say Tauhedi planned to work with the unnamed boy to liquidate his assets, repatriate his family to Afghanistan, buy assault rifles and “conduct violent attacks” in the United States. . A juvenile was also arrested, according to court documents.
The indictment comes as the Justice Department has publicly and repeatedly said it is focused on protecting the November presidential election from foreign threats. What prosecutors said was a plot by Tawhidi aimed at targeting “large gatherings of people” was foiled less than a month before voters headed to the polls.
Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray praised federal law enforcement for thwarting the plot. Garland said the Justice Department will continue to “identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to terrorize the American people.”
According to prosecutors, Tauhedi entered the United States in September 2021 and is currently on parole pending an immigration decision. He lives in Oklahoma City with his wife and children.
Over the summer, Taweedi spent the summer studying topics such as “How to access cameras in Washington, D.C.,” “U.S. states that don’t require a relationship to obtain a firearm,” and “Which U.S. states have passed unauthorized gun possession laws.” He is said to have searched online for “. Tawedi also visited the White House and Washington Monument webcams in July.
According to court documents, Taweedi began a conversation with a known ISIS recruiter on the messaging platform Telegram in August. According to messages recovered by the FBI and highlighted in court documents, Tawedi and the recruiter allegedly discussed firearms, and Tawedi asked if someone could “mentor” the family “in the near future.”
“Brother, our house sold today. We will receive the money by October 15th next month,” read a message from Tauhedi included in court documents. “Then we will begin our duties: God willing, and with God’s help, we will prepare for election day.”
The Justice Department pointed to ISIS propaganda found on Taweedi’s cell phone and donations to charities known to funnel money to terrorist organizations. Prosecutors also referred to a video found on the phone that prosecutors say shows the 27-year-old talking to a child about the rewards martyrs receive in the afterlife.
This story has been updated with additional details.
