During a recent interview, officials disclosed that 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi from Oklahoma City allegedly purchased AK-47 rifles as part of a scheme to target large crowds on November 5, coinciding with Election Day. According to the Justice Department, Tawhedi was apprehended by the FBI after reportedly being inspired by the Islamic State and planning an attack on U.S. soil.
After his arrest on Monday, Tawhedi reportedly informed investigators that he and an accomplice expected to die as martyrs during the planned assault, as detailed in the charging documents. Tawhedi, who immigrated to the United States in September 2021, had reportedly taken drastic steps leading up to his arrest, including liquidating family assets and purchasing one-way tickets for his wife and child to return to Afghanistan.
This arrest raises alarm bells at the FBI, which has been increasingly concerned about the potential for extremist violence within the United States. FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted the seriousness of the situation in an August interview with the Associated Press, stating, “I’m hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once.” He further emphasized, “Terrorism is still the FBI’s number one priority, and we will use every resource to protect the American people.”
While the FBI affidavit does not reveal how Tawhedi first came to authorities’ attention, it provides evidence of his determined intent to execute an attack. One notable piece of evidence is a July photograph showing Tawhedi reading a text to two young children, including his daughter, discussing the rewards of martyrdom in the hereafter.
Officials noted that Tawhedi engaged with ISIS propaganda, donated to a charity linked to the terrorist organization, and had communications with an individual previously associated with recruitment for extremist activities. Furthermore, he was reported to have watched live feeds from webcams focused on the White House and the Washington Monument back in July.
The Justice Department has not disclosed the name of Tawhedi’s alleged co-conspirator, identifying him only as a juvenile, an Afghan national, and the brother of Tawhedi’s wife. The FBI’s investigation involved an informant who engaged with the suspects after they advertised personal property on Facebook. The informant later invited them to a shooting range, where they ordered weapons from an undercover FBI agent posing as a business associate.
Tawhedi now faces charges of conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, classified by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization, which could result in a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. He appeared in court on Tuesday and was remanded into custody, though it remains unclear whether he has obtained legal representation to address the charges against him.
