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The FBI has arrested an 18-year-old in Idaho after uncovering his “truly horrific” and “violent plot” to attack churches in Coeur d’Alene this past weekend on behalf of ISIS, the Justice Department says.
Alexander Mercurio is now facing a federal charge of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization after the FBI says he devised a plan to “incapacitate his father, restrain him using handcuffs, and steal his firearms to use for maximum casualties” in an attack he had been planning to carry out in the northern Idaho resort city on Sunday, April 7.
“The defendant allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS and sought to attack people attending churches in Idaho, a truly horrific plan which was detected and thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.
Mercurio was arrested just one day before he intended to carry out his deadly plot. According to the Justice Department, “Mercurio pledged his allegiance to ISIS and intended to commit attacks on its behalf. He planned to attack individuals at churches in Coeur d’Alene on April 7 using weapons, including knives, firearms, and fire.”
According to the DOJ’s criminal complaint, the FBI started investigating the teen, who lives in Coeur d’Alene, in 2022 when he “reached out to confidential human sources online and indicated his support for ISIS and terrorist organizations, more generally.”
The FBI investigator said Mercurio began spreading ISIS propaganda online, solicited ISIS’s involvement and approval of his efforts, pledged his allegiance to ISIS, discussed traveling from the United States to join ISIS, [and] even discussed how he could support ISIS financially.
“His attack plan involved using flame-covered weapons, explosives, knives, a machete, a pipe and ultimately firearms. His plan grew more precise as he eventually identified the specific church and date on which he planned to attack,” the complaint reads.
Mercurio intended to attack churches on Sunday, but Saturday afternoon, FBI showed up at his home with a search warrant and arrested him. They found multiple objects at the home that he had discussed using in the attack.
CLICK HERE to read the actual criminal complaint released by the Justice Department.
Idaho Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS
: https://t.co/fk5bp5OmsI pic.twitter.com/8iQKPbvGCk
— National Security Division, U.S. Dept of Justice (@DOJNatSec) April 9, 2024
WATCH the news report below:
The FBI arrested 18-year-old Alexander Scott Mercurio on Saturday after he allegedly made plans to attack churches in Idaho and pledged his allegiance to ISIS, the Justice Department said. pic.twitter.com/hyC8758VlB
— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) April 9, 2024
2) The FBI says that an online account belonging to an alleged ISIS supporter was deleted, and its owner believed dead, so the feds installed a CHS to play the role of the dead individual.
Mercurio allegedly contacted the CHS on the new account. pic.twitter.com/tLd81Nv8P5
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) April 9, 2024
4) In March, Mercurio allegedly told an “FBI Online Covert Employee” that “I am going to perform a martyrdom operation” and explained to CHS-1 that he intended to use a “flame sword.” pic.twitter.com/7AVSS3DmZ1
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) April 9, 2024
6) Undercover 1 (UC1) messaged Mercurio, who allegedly set up a new chat he thought would be “safe and secure” with UC1.
Then Mercurio allegedly spoke to CHS-3, saying he wanted to do a “martyrdom operation.” pic.twitter.com/003FsvbCk5
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) April 9, 2024
8) On April 6, the FBI raided his house.
The full affidavit is below. In total I count 18-year-old Alexander Mercurio allegedly communicating with:
-Three Confidential Human Sources
-One undercover agent
-One FBI Online Covert Employeehttps://t.co/yscI5YwOMK pic.twitter.com/8S5oCzKceL— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) April 9, 2024
9) “This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI in the DOJ statement about the arrest.https://t.co/mrzU3IxpGn pic.twitter.com/o8390CanQ0
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) April 9, 2024
BREAKING NEWS: FBI arrests 18-year-old for ‘violent plot’ to attack churches on behalf of ISIS, Justice Department sayshttps://t.co/MyomLH8nyz
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 9, 2024
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