Afghan national arrested in Oklahoma after undercover sting reveals Election Day terror plot tied to ISIS
The U.S. Department of Justice recently arrested Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, a 27-year-old Afghan national residing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in connection with an alleged plot to carry out a terrorist attack on Election Day. Tawhedi, motivated by the Islamic State (ISIS), was planning to target large gatherings of people, according to federal authorities.
The Arrest and Investigation
Tawhedi entered the United States in 2021 on a special immigrant visa and had since been living in Oklahoma. In recent weeks, authorities uncovered that he had taken concrete steps to execute his plan, including acquiring firearms and ammunition, liquidating his family’s assets, and preparing to relocate his wife and child back to Afghanistan. He and a juvenile co-conspirator had reportedly sought to acquire AK-47 rifles for the attack. Federal agents posing as arms dealers were involved in the investigation, which led to his arrest during a sting operation on October 7, 2024.
The investigation revealed Tawhedi’s deep involvement with ISIS propaganda. He accessed ISIS materials online, participated in pro-ISIS groups on the messaging app Telegram, and even contributed funds to an ISIS-linked charity. Tawhedi had been surveilling Washington D.C. landmarks such as the White House and Washington Monument, and he was searching for states with lenient gun laws, potentially to carry out his violent plans.
Details of the Plot
According to the FBI, Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, who is also an Afghan national and underage, planned to die as martyrs while executing a large-scale attack targeting civilians on Election Day. Tawhedi’s radicalization was fueled by ISIS propaganda, and he actively engaged in conversations with individuals connected to the extremist group. Authorities obtained records from Google and other platforms, revealing his extensive research into surveillance cameras and weapon acquisition strategies.
One chilling piece of evidence was a video from July in which Tawhedi read to two children about the afterlife rewards for martyrs. This reinforced the perception that he was fully committed to carrying out a violent attack in the name of ISIS. His arrest came just weeks before the planned attack, potentially averting a major national security crisis.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Tawhedi has been charged with several serious crimes, including providing and attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, and procuring firearms and ammunition to use in a felony act of terrorism. The Justice Department, FBI, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma emphasized the gravity of the case, citing it as an example of the persistent threat that ISIS and its supporters pose to U.S. national security.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the full extent of the plot and any other individuals who may have been involved. The juvenile co-conspirator’s identity has not been publicly disclosed due to their age, but they are also facing charges in connection with the plot.
The FBI and Justice Department praised the swift actions of the investigating officers and the undercover operation that prevented the attack. FBI Director Christopher Wray reiterated that terrorism remains the FBI’s top priority, with the agency using every available resource to protect the American people.
Ongoing Threat of Domestic Terrorism
This case is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by both domestic and foreign radicalized individuals. Despite the decline of ISIS’s territorial hold in the Middle East, its ideology continues to inspire violent extremists around the world. In the U.S., law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in their efforts to identify and neutralize threats from individuals seeking to carry out attacks inspired by terrorist organizations.
The charges against Tawhedi reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting individuals who pose a threat to national security. If convicted, he faces severe penalties, including life imprisonment.
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