Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan national living in Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to terrorism charges for plotting an ISIS-inspired Election Day attack, prompting renewed concerns over domestic radicalization and immigrant vetting.
At a Glance
- Tawhedi pleaded guilty on June 13 to supporting ISIS and attempting a terror attack with firearms
- He planned a mass shooting on November 5, 2024, using two AK‑47s and 500 rounds of ammo
- FBI agents arrested Tawhedi and a co-conspirator after a month-long undercover operation
- He faces up to 35 years in federal prison; his 17-year-old co-plotter pleaded guilty in April
- Federal and local agencies, including USCIS and the Oklahoma JTTF, helped disrupt the plot
FBI Foils Election Day Massacre
According to AP News, the FBI monitored Tawhedi, 27, for over a month before orchestrating a sting operation. On October 7, 2024, he and his 17-year-old brother-in-law, Abdullah Haji Zada, met an undercover agent in Oklahoma City to buy weapons intended for an Election Day attack on crowded polling locations.
The pair procured two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, believing the attack would maximize casualties and further ISIS’s agenda. Tawhedi’s guilty plea confirms the weapons purchase was designed to carry out “mass violence” during a pivotal democratic event.
Watch a report: Afghan Man Pleads Guilty in Election Day ISIS Plot.
Sentencing and Security Implications
Tawhedi faces a maximum of 35 years in prison—20 for providing material support to ISIS and 15 for attempting to acquire firearms to commit terrorism. His co-conspirator Zada pleaded guilty in April and could serve up to 15 years before facing deportation.
The plot’s exposure underscores concerns about the U.S. Special Immigrant Visa program, through which Tawhedi reportedly entered the country. The case has already sparked calls for tighter coordination between immigration authorities and national security agencies.
According to investigators, Tawhedi had pledged loyalty to ISIS and viewed the 2024 election as a symbolic target. Agencies involved in thwarting the attack included the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, USCIS, ICE, and Oklahoma law enforcement units.
What’s Next
Tawhedi’s sentencing hearing is expected later this year, with prosecutors likely pushing for the maximum penalty
- Zada awaits sentencing and deportation proceedings after incarceration
- Lawmakers and DHS officials may revisit SIV vetting policies and interagency alert systems
- The case will serve as a blueprint for disrupting homegrown and imported terror plots through coordinated surveillance and undercover intervention
This case reveals not just the evolving threat of radicalized individuals within U.S. borders, but the critical role of real-time federal response in defending democratic institutions.
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