Afghan National Pleads Guilty to Conspiring Attack During US Election Day Celebrations

An Afghan man residing in Oklahoma has pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges in federal court, having been accused of planning an attack on Election Day in the U.S. on behalf of the Islamic State group. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, admitted to two serious offenses: conspiring to provide support to the Islamic State and attempting to acquire firearms to commit an act of terrorism. The Islamic State is recognized by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization. As a result of his plea, Tawhedi could face a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Tawhedi had been caught planning and acquiring firearms to execute a violent attack on Election Day in 2024. This plot was thwarted thanks to the diligent work of the FBI and its partners. According to court documents, Tawhedi was living in Oklahoma City last year when he obtained two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, intending to target large crowds. Authorities reported that he conspired with several individuals, including his brother-in-law, Abdullah Haji Zada, over a period of months to orchestrate the attack.

Zada, who was just 17 at the time, was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty in April, facing a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. Tawhedi entered the U.S. in September 2021 under a special immigration visa shortly after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. When arrested on October 7, he was on parole while awaiting a decision on his immigration status, which has since been revoked. Reports indicate that Tawhedi, who worked as a rideshare driver and in auto shops, was under surveillance for more than a month before his arrest.