According to the indictment, Nasser Ahmed Tawhidi (27 years old), who resides in the city of… Oklahoma After entering the United States in 2021 With a visa Special migration, to launch the attack under the banner of an organization.”ISIS“.
And a program Immigrant visa The Special Entry, which allows up to 50 people per year, is available to people who have worked as translators with US forces or under the authority of the head of mission in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The indictment did not mention whether Tawhidi worked as a translator in Afghanistan.
According to the indictment, Tawhidi searched online for information about how to access cameras in Washington, D.C., and about states that do not require a license to obtain a firearm.
He also visited private webcams At the White House And the Washington Monument.
Tawhidi and his minor accomplice were arrested on Monday after they met with FBI agents to purchase two assault rifles. Kalashnikov And ammunition.
In the interrogation conducted with him after his arrest, Tawhidi said that the attack was planned to target large gatherings of people.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement, “We will continue to combat the continuing threat posed by ISIS and its supporters to US national security, and we will identify, pursue and investigate individuals who seek to terrorize the American people.”
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security said in its “homeland threat assessment” that the threat environment in the United States is expected to remain elevated next year due to factors such as the 2024 election cycle and the war. Israel in Gaza.
In an assessment issued on October 2, the department said, “lone criminals and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat. At the same time, foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS, continue to And the base“Its continued determination to carry out or inspire attacks at home.”
