Afghan citizen accused of plotting election day terrorist attack in U.S.

An Afghanistan citizen living in Oklahoma City was charged Tuesday with plotting a terrorist attack for Election Day, local KOCO news reported citing a Justice Department filing.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, tried to liquidate his family's assets and have them move to the United States so he could buy guns to carry out the attack, according to the filing which says he used Facebook in an attempt to coordinate with a juvenile involving purchasing firearms.

An FBI confidential source met the two to test the weapons, the filing said.

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"On Oct. 7, Tawhedi and the juvenile met with FBI assets at a rural location in Oklahoma, where they purchased, received and took possession of two AK-47 assault rifles, 10 magazines and 500 rounds of ammunition," KOCO said in the report.

The two were then promptly arrested.

“As charged, 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 B. Garland in a statement.

When the FBI searched Tawhedi's electronics, they discovered communications with ISIS recruitment and training, ISIS propaganda, participation in pro-ISIS groups, and that he had given money to a group that funnels cash to ISIS, according to the filing.

The maximum sentence for material support of ISIS is a 20-year prison sentence and other charges he faces, like receiving a firearm to commit a felony, can earn him a 15-year sentence.

"The charges brought against Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi in Oklahoma for plotting an Election Day terrorist attack on U.S. soil is a stark reminder that our nation continues to face threats from those who hate our freedom and want to do us harm," U.S. Sen. James Lankford posted on the social media site X.

Both U.S. Senators said that they knew of the arrest before it happened. "I was briefed on this situation prior to the arrest, and it’s an ongoing investigation. I commend those who stopped this from moving ahead, and will remain in contact with state and federal law enforcement," Sen. Markwayne Mullin said on social media.