Afghan man accused of planning an Election Day attack in the U.S. pleads guilty

An Afghan antheral successful Oklahoma accused of planning an Election Day attack successful the U.S. connected behalf of the Islamic State radical pleaded blameworthy Friday to terrorism-related charges successful national court.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, pleaded blameworthy to 2 offenses: conspiring and providing enactment to the Islamic State group, and attempting to person firearms to perpetrate a national transgression of terrorism. The Islamic State is designated by the U.S. arsenic a overseas violent organization.

Tawhedi faces up to 35 years successful prison.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi. U.S. Department of Justice

“The suspect admits helium planned and obtained firearms to transportation retired a convulsive panic onslaught connected Election Day successful 2024, a crippled that was detected and disrupted done the bully enactment of the FBI and our partners,” FBI Director Kash Patel said successful a statement.

A telephone connection was near seeking remark from Craig Hoehns, an lawyer for Tawhedi.

Tawhedi was surviving successful Oklahoma City past twelvemonth erstwhile helium acquired two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition to people ample crowds, according to tribunal documents. Authorities said helium had conspired with aggregate people, including his brother-in-law, Abdullah Haji Zada, for respective months to crippled retired the attack.

Zada, who was 17 astatine the time, was charged arsenic an big and pleaded blameworthy successful April. He faces up to 15 years successful prison.

Tawhedi arrived successful the U.S. successful September 2021 connected a peculiar migration visa soon aft the superior metropolis of Afghanistan, Kabul, was captured by the Taliban. At the clip of his apprehension connected Oct. 7, Tawhedi was connected parole portion his migration presumption was pending, according to the Justice Department. His parole presumption has since been revoked.

FBI agents had testified earlier that Tawhedi, who worked arsenic a rideshare operator and astatine car shops, was nether surveillance for much than a period earlier his arrest.