Afghan national living in the U.S. charged with plotting an Election Day terrorist attack

An Afghan national living in Oklahoma was charged this week with conspiring to carry out a terrorist attack on Election Day on behalf of the Islamic State terrorist group, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, was arrested Monday in connection with conspiracy and attempting to provide material support to ISIS and getting firearms and ammunition to execute a violent attack in the U.S. on behalf of the terrorist group. Tawhedi made his initial appearance Tuesday in the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City before U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell.

At attorney listed for Tawhedi did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

According to court documents, Tawhedi indicated in seized communications that he planned his attack for Election Day, Nov. 5. Authorities said that in an interview after his arrest, he confirmed that the attack was intended to target large gatherings and that he was expected to die a martyr along with a juvenile co-conspirator, described as an Afghan citizen with legal permanent resident status.

The pair were arrested after they met two confidential human sources and an undercover FBI agent, who posed as business partners, at a rural location in the Western District of Oklahoma, to buy the rifles, 10 magazines and ammunition for the planned attack.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Tuesday that the Justice Department would continue “to combat the ongoing threat that ISIS and its supporters pose to America’s national security, and we will identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals who seek to terrorize the American people.”

A review of Google records showed that Tawhedi viewed and saved ISIS propaganda, according to