Current:Home > MarketsJudge orders Afghan man accused of planning Election Day attack in US to remain in custody -Financial Clarity Guides
Judge orders Afghan man accused of planning Election Day attack in US to remain in custody
View
Date:2025-04-15 03:34:01
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Afghan man who is accused of plotting an Election Day attack in the U.S. was ordered Thursday to remain in custody as officials disclosed that he had previously worked as a security guard for an American military installation in Afghanistan.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell in Oklahoma City issued her ruling after hearing testimony from an FBI special agent that Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, of Oklahoma City, and his brother-in-law, a juvenile, took steps to obtain AK-47 rifles and ammunition and planned to carry out an attack targeting large crowds on Election Day next month. Mitchell also determined there was probable cause to bind Tawhedi over for trial.
FBI agent Derek Wiley testified that Tawhedi also is linked to an investigation in France that led to the arrests this month of three people, including two of Tawhedi’s brothers, who authorities say were plotting a terrorist attack in that country. One of those arrested in France, a 22-year-old Afghan who had residency papers in France, was being investigated for a suspected plan to attack people in a soccer stadium or shopping center.
Authorities say both Tawhedi and those arrested in France were inspired by Islamic State ideology.
The Justice Department said earlier that Tahwedi had entered the U.S. on a special immigrant visa in September 2021 shortly after Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul was captured by the Taliban, and had been on parole pending a determination of his immigration status. In court Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Dillon told the judge that Tawhedi had been temporarily allowed into the U.S. while he had a pending application for resident status, but that his parole status has since been revoked.
“Were he to be released today, he would be unlawfully in the United States,” Dillon said.
Tawhedi, bearded and with dark tousled hair, was led into the courtroom with his hands shackled around his waist and flanked by two U.S. marshals. Both he and his attorney, Craig Hoehns, wore a headset to communicate, and a Dari language interpreter was provided by the court.
Wiley testified that Tawhedi had been under observation by federal agents for more than 40 days before his arrest on Oct. 7. He said Tawhedi subsequently admitted to investigators that he and his co-conspirator planned their attack to coincide with Election Day next month and that they expected to die as martyrs in the attack.
Wiley said Tawhedi had used the online messaging application Telegram to communicate with an account associated with the Islamic State militant organization that was directing his actions, and that Tawhedi had sworn allegiance to the group and “would do whatever they told him to.”
In arguing for home detention while awaiting trial, Hoehns suggested that the only weapon Tawhedi ever handled in the U.S. was given to him by a government informant and that Tawhedi had never been arrested or even received a traffic citation in three years in the U.S.
Hoehns said Tawhedi had worked previously as a rideshare driver in Dallas and at several oil change locations in Oklahoma City.
France’s national anti-terrorism prosecution office has previously said that its probe leading to the Afghan’s arrest was launched Sept. 27, prior to Tawhedi’s arrest in the U.S.
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Today’s news: Follow live updates from the campaign trail from the AP.
- Ground Game: Sign up for AP’s weekly politics newsletter to get it in your inbox every Monday.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
In a statement Wednesday, the FBI said the arrests in both countries “demonstrate the importance of partnerships to detect and disrupt potential terrorist attacks.”
“The coordination between the United States and French law enforcement contributed to these outcomes,” the FBI said.
___
Associated Press writer John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.
veryGood! (28)
Related
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- 25 Rare October Prime Day 2024 Deals You Don’t Want to Miss—Save Big on Dyson, Ninja, Too Faced & More
- What to know about Hurricane Milton as it speeds toward Florida
- Patriots' Jabrill Peppers facing assault charge in alleged domestic violence incident
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Padres and Dodgers continue to exchange barbs and accusations ahead of NLDS Game 3
- Patriots' Jabrill Peppers facing assault charge in alleged domestic violence incident
- Daniel Craig opens up about his 'beautiful,' explicit gay romance 'Queer'
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Biden cancels trip to Germany and Angola because of hurricane
Ranking
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Padres and Dodgers continue to exchange barbs and accusations ahead of NLDS Game 3
- Rare $100 Off Dyson Airwrap for October Prime Day 2024 — Grab This Can't-Miss Deal Before It Sells Out!
- Man injured after explosion at Southern California home; blast cause unknown
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Ohio TV reporter shot, hospitalized following apparent domestic incident: Reports
- How Scheana Shay Is Playing Matchmaker for Brittany Cartwright Amid Jax Taylor Divorce
- Unleash Your Magic With These Gifts for Wicked Fans: Shop Exclusive Collabs at Loungefly, Walmart & More
Recommendation
The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
How Tucson police handled a death like George Floyd’s when leaders thought it would never happen
The money behind the politics: Tracking campaign finance data for Pennsylvania candidates
25 Best October Prime Day 2024 Fall Fashion Deals: Doc Martens for $100 Off, Sweaters for $19 & More
Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
Shams Charania replaces mentor-turned-rival Adrian Wojnarowski at ESPN
This Montana Senate candidate said his opponent ate ‘lobbyist steak.’ But he lobbied—with steak
These police officers had red flags in their past, then used force in a case that ended in death