Afghan man pleads guilty to plotting ISIS-inspired attack on US election day
United States
on behalf of the Islamic State (
ISIS
), according to court records and official statements released in June 2025.
Tawhedi faces a maximum prison sentence of 35 years for these offenses.
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Details of the case and charges
Nasir
Ahmad Tawhedi
, 27, pleaded guilty on June 13 to two counts: conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS and attempting to acquire firearms to commit a federal terrorism offense.
The U.S. government classifies ISIS as a foreign terrorist organization.
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Court documents reveal that Tawhedi, who arrived in the U.S. on September 1, 2021, under a special immigration program shortly after the
Taliban
took control of Kabul, had been living in Oklahoma when he sought to obtain
AK-47-style rifles
and approximately 500 rounds of ammunition. His intent was to target large groups of people during the 2024 U.S. election, aiming to inflict mass casualties and disrupt the democratic process.
Authorities disclosed that Tawhedi collaborated with several individuals, including his father-in-law Abdullah H. Zada, who was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty in April 2025. Zada faces up to 15 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
Investigation and arrest
The
FBI
monitored Tawhedi for over a month before his arrest, during which he was employed as a rideshare driver and worked in automotive repair shops. The agency's investigation uncovered his efforts to acquire weapons and plan the attack.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the investigation, stating, 'The defendant admits he planned and obtained firearms to carry out a violent terror attack on Election Day in 2024, a plot that was detected and disrupted through the good work of the FBI and our partners.'
At the time of his arrest on October 7, 2024, Tawhedi was on parole pending a decision on his immigration status, which has since been revoked.
Motivations and court statements
During the court proceedings, Tawhedi admitted that his motivation stemmed from retaliation against U.S. involvement in conflicts abroad, specifically citing the war in
Gaza
. Though he did not formally apologize, he acknowledged knowing that his actions were wrong. Through an interpreter, he expressed that he had been opposed to violence for much of his life but became disillusioned, which influenced his worldview and led to his involvement in the plot.
He explicitly stated that the plan was intended to kill Americans and disrupt the U.S. electoral process, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.
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