On 9 Oct 2024, an Afghan national residing in Oklahoma was arrested for conspiring to execute a terrorist raid on Election Day on behalf of the Islamic State terrorist body. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, was captured by the FBI in connection with conspiracy and endeavouring to provide material support to ISIS and getting firearms and ammunition to perpetrate a violent attack in the U.S. on behalf of the terrorist group. 

“This defendant, inspired by ISIS, allegedly conspired to commit a violent attack, on Election Day, here in our homeland,” stated FBI Director Christopher Wray.

“I am proud of the men and women of the FBI who uncovered and stopped the plot before anyone was harmed. Terrorism is still the FBI’s number one priority, and we will use every resource to protect the American people.”

According to the criminal complaint, based on the investigation into Tawhedi, the FBI analysed Tawhedi’s phone and obtained contacts between Tawhedi and a person who facilitated recruitment, conditioning, and indoctrination of persons who said interest in terrorist activity and who Tawhedi comprehended to be affiliated with ISIS. Tawhedi was also caught in a video recorded on July 20 reading two children’s text that explains the rewards a martyr receives in the afterlife. Tawhedi also allegedly accessed, considered, and saved ISIS propaganda on his iCloud and Google accounts, partook in pro-ISIS Telegram groups and contributed to a charity which funnels money to ISIS.

According to the complaint, while liquidating their family’s assets before the spell, Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, who is a juvenile, publicised the sale of the family’s possessions on Facebook. At the FBI’s direction, a confidential human source reacted to inquire if a computer was still for sale. The FBI source stated that he required the computer for a new gun trade he was starting, which eventually led Tawhedi and the juvenile to meet with the source and other FBI aids at a rural location to test firearms. Tawhedi voiced interest in buying two AK-47 assault rifles, magazines, and shells from the source.

In his seized contacts, Tawhedi allegedly implied that his attack was scheduled for Election Day, and in a post-arrest discussion, Tawhedi allegedly verified the attack was planned for Election Day targeting large groups of people, during which he and the juvenile were predicted to die as martyrs. The case is being analysed by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, with valuable help from the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Moore, Oklahoma Police Department.