Afghan man pleads guilty to plotting Election Day terror attack in US

An Afghan national on Friday pleaded guilty in federal court to two charges related to plotting an Election Day terrorist attack last year in support of the Islamic State (ISIS).

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, pleaded guilty in Oklahoma City to conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism, the Justice Department said.

Tawhedi, who was arrested by the FBI in October, was let into the country immediately after former President Joe Biden withdrew American troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

“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," she added.

Tawhedi's charging documents allege that Tawhedi attempted to purchase semiautomatic firearms and ammunition in order to carry out the attack, and even had plans to resettle his family overseas ahead of the planned Nov. 5 attack. 

The Afghan now faces up to 20 years in prison for the material support charge and up to 15 years in prison for the firearms charge.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.