Latest news with #Tawhedi
18 hours ago
- Politics
Afghan man accused of planning Election Day attack in US pleads guilty
An Afghan man in Oklahoma accused of planning an Election Day attack in the U.S. on behalf of the Islamic State group pleaded guilty Friday to terrorism-related charges in federal court. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, pleaded guilty to two offenses: conspiring and providing support to the Islamic State group, and attempting to receive firearms to commit a federal crime of terrorism. The Islamic State is designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization. Tawhedi faces up to 35 years in prison. 'The defendant admits he planned and obtained firearms to carry out a violent terror attack on Election Day in 2024, a plot that was detected and disrupted through the good work of the FBI and our partners,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. A phone message was left seeking comment from Craig Hoehns, an attorney for Tawhedi. Tawhedi was living in Oklahoma City last year when he acquired two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition to target large crowds, according to court documents. Authorities said he had conspired with multiple people, including his brother-in-law, Abdullah Haji Zada, for several months to plot out the attack. Zada, who was 17 at the time, was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty in April. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Tawhedi arrived in the U.S. in September 2021 on a special immigration visa shortly after the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul, was captured by the Taliban. At the time of his arrest on Oct. 7, Tawhedi was on parole while his immigration status was pending, according to the Justice Department. His parole status has since been revoked. FBI agents had testified earlier that Tawhedi, who worked as a rideshare driver and at auto shops, was under surveillance for more than a month before his arrest.
The Hill
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Afghan man pleads guilty for plotting Election Day attack
An Afghan man pleaded guilty to two terrorism-related offenses on Friday for plotting to carry out an Election Day attack. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, told investigators he and co-conspirator Abdullah Haji Zada planned to die as martyrs while targeting large groups of people on Nov. 5. 'By pledging allegiance to ISIS and plotting an attack against innocent Americans on Election Day, this defendant endangered lives and gravely betrayed the nation that gave him refuge,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 'Today's guilty plea guarantees he will be held accountable, stripped of his immigration status, and permanently removed from the United States, and shows the Justice Department has zero tolerance for those who exploit our freedoms to spread violence.' The FBI first thwarted the plot, which they said was motivated by ISIS, in October of last year. The Justice Department said Tawhedi purchased two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines with the intent to carry out a mass-casualty attack. 'Thanks to outstanding work by the Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force, the defendant's plan to kill innocent Americans in a terrorist attack on Election Day was stopped,' said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Tawhedi is facing a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison for the two charges while Zada faces up to 15 years in federal prison. At the completion of any sentence, Tawhedi and Zada will be permanently removed from the barred from reentry under stipulated judicial orders of removal to Afghanistan, according to the Justice Department.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Afghan man pleads guilty to plotting ISIS-inspired attack on US election day
An Afghan national residing in Oklahoma has admitted guilt in a federal court for conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack on Election Day in the United States on behalf of the Islamic State ( ISIS ), according to court records and official statements released in June 2025. Tawhedi faces a maximum prison sentence of 35 years for these offenses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 21st Century Skills Start with Confident Communication Planet Spark Learn More Undo Details of the case and charges Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi , 27, pleaded guilty on June 13 to two counts: conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS and attempting to acquire firearms to commit a federal terrorism offense. The U.S. government classifies ISIS as a foreign terrorist organization. Live Events Court documents reveal that Tawhedi, who arrived in the U.S. on September 1, 2021, under a special immigration program shortly after the Taliban took control of Kabul, had been living in Oklahoma when he sought to obtain AK-47-style rifles and approximately 500 rounds of ammunition. His intent was to target large groups of people during the 2024 U.S. election, aiming to inflict mass casualties and disrupt the democratic process. Authorities disclosed that Tawhedi collaborated with several individuals, including his father-in-law Abdullah H. Zada, who was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty in April 2025. Zada faces up to 15 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Investigation and arrest The FBI monitored Tawhedi for over a month before his arrest, during which he was employed as a rideshare driver and worked in automotive repair shops. The agency's investigation uncovered his efforts to acquire weapons and plan the attack. FBI Director Kash Patel praised the investigation, stating, 'The defendant admits he planned and obtained firearms to carry out a violent terror attack on Election Day in 2024, a plot that was detected and disrupted through the good work of the FBI and our partners.' At the time of his arrest on October 7, 2024, Tawhedi was on parole pending a decision on his immigration status, which has since been revoked. Motivations and court statements During the court proceedings, Tawhedi admitted that his motivation stemmed from retaliation against U.S. involvement in conflicts abroad, specifically citing the war in Gaza . Though he did not formally apologize, he acknowledged knowing that his actions were wrong. Through an interpreter, he expressed that he had been opposed to violence for much of his life but became disillusioned, which influenced his worldview and led to his involvement in the plot. He explicitly stated that the plan was intended to kill Americans and disrupt the U.S. electoral process, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma based Afghan national pleads guilty to Election Day terror plot
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — 27-year-old Nasir Ahmed Tawhedi entered a guilty plea in federal court on Friday. An Oklahoma judge accepted a two-count plea, declaring Tawhedi guilty to one count of conspiracy and attempt to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, specifically, ISIS. The second count was for receiving, conspiring to receive, and attempting to receive firearms and ammunition for use in a federal crime of terrorism, specifically conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS. Tawhedi, living in Oklahoma City, was arrested in October 2024 for planning an Election Day terror attack on behalf of ISIS, the U.S. Department of Justice said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: New details after Election Day terror suspect's hearing The DOJ said Tawhedi liquidated his family's assets and resettled his family members in preparation for the attack. The FBI found messages between Tawhedi and an unnamed person with ties to ISIS. They also reportedly found a video of Tawhedi reading a text to two children that 'describes the rewards a martyr receives in the afterlife,' as well as saved ISIS propaganda on his iCloud and Google account. Tawhedi walked into a federal courtroom on Friday in an orange jumpsuit with his hands and legs chained together. 'The defendants have now admitted their guilt in this violent conspiracy, which was to be carried out on behalf of ISIS, and they will soon face the consequences,' said Doug Goodwater, Special Agent in Charge from the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Under oath, Tawhedi admitted to plotting the Election Day terrorist attack with his brother-in-law, Abudllah Haji Zada, after claiming innocence in November. Tawhedi said he purchased two AK-47 rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition on October 7, 2024, a month before the 2024 Presidential Election. Robert Troester, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, said, 'These guilty pleas serve as an emphatic reminder that the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who attempt to harm Americans through terrorist acts.' A federal judge asked why the attack was planned. Tawhedi said it was intended to retaliate against the United States Government for supporting Israel during its war with Hamas in Gaza. Tawhedi also confirmed that the intent of the attack was to kill as many people as possible. Before agreeing to a plea deal, Tawhedi faced three felony counts, with a maximum sentence of 55 years. He's now pleaded guilty to two felony counts, with a 35-year max sentence. The date for sentencing has not been announced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Afghan man accused of planning an Election Day attack in the U.S. pleads guilty
An Afghan man in Oklahoma accused of planning an Election Day attack in the U.S. on behalf of the Islamic State group pleaded guilty Friday to terrorism-related charges in federal court. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, pleaded guilty to two offenses: conspiring and providing support to the Islamic State group, and attempting to receive firearms to commit a federal crime of terrorism. The Islamic State is designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization. Tawhedi faces up to 35 years in prison. 'The defendant admits he planned and obtained firearms to carry out a violent terror attack on Election Day in 2024, a plot that was detected and disrupted through the good work of the FBI and our partners,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. A phone message was left seeking comment from Craig Hoehns, an attorney for Tawhedi. Tawhedi was living in Oklahoma City last year when he acquired two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition to target large crowds, according to court documents. Authorities said he had conspired with multiple people, including his brother-in-law, Abdullah Haji Zada, for several months to plot out the attack. Zada, who was 17 at the time, was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty in April. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Tawhedi arrived in the U.S. in September 2021 on a special immigration visa shortly after the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul, was captured by the Taliban. At the time of his arrest on Oct. 7, Tawhedi was on parole while his immigration status was pending, according to the Justice Department. His parole status has since been revoked. FBI agents had testified earlier that Tawhedi, who worked as a rideshare driver and at auto shops, was under surveillance for more than a month before his arrest.
