Federal authorities have charged Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, an Afghan citizen residing in Oklahoma City, with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack on Election Day in the United States, allegedly on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). According to the Justice Department, Tawhedi attempted to provide material support to ISIS and had acquired firearms and ammunition for the planned assault.
Tawhedi, who was never properly vetted or approved by the State Department for special immigrant visa (SIV) status, had been incorrectly cleared by Homeland Security and Biden administration officials, raising concerns about gaps in the vetting process. Despite earlier claims by some agencies that Tawhedi had passed the stringent SIV process, the State Department clarified it had no role in his refugee status, contradicting what was initially stated in the Department of Justice’s criminal complaint.
The Justice Department alleges Tawhedi took steps to liquidate his family’s assets, relocate his relatives overseas, and purchase AK-47 rifles as part of the plot. “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,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
According to investigators, Tawhedi’s phone contained communications with a person linked to ISIS recruitment and indoctrination efforts. FBI agents also uncovered pro-ISIS propaganda on his iCloud and Google accounts, and Tawhedi allegedly participated in Telegram groups that supported ISIS, while contributing to a charity suspected of funneling money to the terrorist organization.
FBI Director Christopher Wray underscored the agency’s vigilance in counterterrorism efforts, stating, “Terrorism is still the FBI’s number one priority, and we will use every resource to protect the American people.” U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma credited the collaboration of federal authorities, saying, “The alleged plan to commit an attack on Election Day was disrupted, and Mr. Tawhedi was arrested.”
The revelations about Tawhedi’s improper vetting have drawn scrutiny, particularly over the discrepancies in the criminal complaint and the conflicting reports from various federal agencies. The State Department’s role in the case remains a point of contention, as officials work to clarify the failures in the background check process that allowed Tawhedi to reside in the U.S.