Afghan man arrested in alleged US election day attack plot

The US Department of Justice has arrested a antheral who allegedly planned an onslaught connected Election Day successful the sanction of the Islamic State group.

The suspect, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, is simply a national of Afghanistan residing successful Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, according to prosecutors.

“This defendant, motivated by ISIS, allegedly conspired to perpetrate a convulsive attack, connected Election Day, present connected our homeland," said FBI Director Christopher Wray successful a connection connected Tuesday.

The FBI said helium was attempting stockpile firearms, and had taken steps to liquidate his family's assets and relocate members overseas.

Mr Tawhedi is charged with providing, attempting to provide, and conspiracy to supply enactment oregon resources to a overseas violent organization; and with trying to procure firearms and ammunition to usage to perpetrate a felony oregon enactment of terrorism.

The FBI said Mr Tawhedi worked with an unnamed co-conspirator, who is simply a juvenile comparative and besides a national of Afghanistan. It accuses him of consuming Islamic State propaganda via the internet, based connected Google records obtained by instrumentality enforcement, and donating to a foundation utilized arsenic a beforehand for IS.

“We volition proceed to combat the ongoing menace that ISIS and its supporters airs to America’s nationalist security, and we volition identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals who question to terrorize the American people,'' said Attorney General Merrick Garland.

According to the BBC quality spouse CBS, national investigators' affidavit alleges that Mr Tawhedi searched for surveillance cameras successful Washington, and webcams showing the White House and Washington Monument. It besides alleges that helium researched states with much lax weapon laws.

Mr Tawhedi sought AK-47 battle rifles to usage successful the attack, authorities claim. On 7 October, helium and the co-conspirator met with individuals who really worked undercover for the FBI to acquisition the weapons and ammunition.

After the purchase, Mr Tawhedi and his co-conspirator were arrested.

In an interrogation conducted aft his apprehension connected Monday, the FBI said Mr Tawhedi allegedly confirmed helium planned an Election Day onslaught that would people “large gatherings of people” and that helium planned to dice carrying it out.

Mr Tawhedi arrived successful the US successful September 2021 connected a peculiar migrant visa with his woman and young child. He lived successful Oklahoma City astatine the clip of his arrest.

It is not instantly wide if helium has ineligible representation.