An Afghan national planned terrorist attacks on election day

An Afghan national has been arrested in Oklahoma City on suspicion of conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack during the November US election on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham terrorist organization.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, conspired to provide ISIS with weapons and material support to lead a possible attack on U.S. soil, according to a criminal complaint filed this week.

Tawhedi also allegedly attempted to liquidate his family’s assets, resettle family members abroad and purchase AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, the Justice Department said.

While liquidating his family’s assets before the attack, Tawhedi and a co-conspirator, who is a minor, advertised the family’s personal property on Facebook. A confidential source asked about a computer for what the source said was a new gun business he was starting, which ultimately led Tawhedi and the minor to meet with the source to test the firearms . Tawhedi expressed interest in purchasing two AK-47 assault rifles, magazines and ammunition from the source, according to investigators.

Tawhedi and the juvenile later met with FBI agents at a rural location in the Western District of Oklahoma and purchased and took possession of two AK-47 assault rifles, 10 magazines and 500 rounds of ammunition. After receiving the rifles and ammunition, Tawhedi and the juvenile were arrested, investigators say.

In the seized communications, Tawhedi allegedly said the attack was planned for election day, which he confirmed in an interview after his arrest. Tawhedi was apparently targeting large gatherings of people, during which he and the minor were supposed to die as martyrs.

Investigators reportedly searched Tahwedi’s phone and found communications with someone believed to be an ISIS member, as well as messages sent to ISIS groups showing support and monetary donations.

Tawhedi was charged with conspiracy and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He was also charged with receiving a firearm for use in the commission of a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The case is being investigated by the Oklahoma City Bureau of the FBI with assistance from the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Moore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Perry, Matt Dillon and Mark Stoneman for the Western District of Oklahoma and U.S. Attorneys George C. Kraehe and Everett McMillian of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.