Afghan man admits to planning Election Day terrorist attack in US
An Afghan man accepted a plea deal, admitting to his role in acquiring firearms for an ISIS-backed Election Day terrorist attack, the Justice Department announced.
Abdullah Haji Zada, 18, pleaded guilty to "receiving" two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, the department said April 17. Federal prosecutors added that Zada worked with Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who was also charged, to carry out a terrorist attack on Election Day in November 2024 for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, a designated foreign terrorist group.
The two were arrested in October 2024 in Moore, Oklahoma, a town about 10 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. At the time, prosecutors referred to Zada as a "juvenile co-conspirator." According to court papers, Tawhedi is Zada's brother-in-law.
Former Attorney General Merrick Garland said in October that the Justice Department foiled the plot as the men bought the rifles from an undercover FBI employee. The department didn't detail where the two planned to attack, but said in court papers Zada and Tawhedi were "targeting large gatherings of people" and expected to be martyrs.
Leading up to the attack, prosecutors wrote in court papers that the two worked to liquidate their family's assets and resettled their family in Afghanistan. The two sent funds to ISIS after receiving proceeds from the liquidation. Federal prosecutors added that a search warrant for Tawhedi's Google records returned results about his queries on ISIS and acquiring firearms.
"Tawhedi's Google account also revealed searches on July 25, 2024, for 'Which US state does not require relations to get a firearm?'; 'Which US state does not require license to get a firearm?'; and 'Which U.S. State Have Passed Permitless Carry Gun Laws," prosecutors wrote.
Zada could face up to 15 years in jail at sentencing. As part of the plea deal, Zada agreed to be deported to Afghanistan after he completes his prison term, prosecutors said.
Tawhedi is awaiting his trial for charges on conspiring and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and conspiring to receive a firearm to commit a felony, the department said. If he's convicted, he could face a maximum of 35 years in prison.
"This defendant, motivated by ISIS, allegedly conspired to commit a violent attack, on Election Day, here on our homeland," Former FBI Director Christopher Wray said in an October statement. "Terrorism is still the FBI's number one priority, and we will use every resource to protect the American people."
Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.