The FBI has arrested a 27-year-old Afghan man in Oklahoma for allegedly planning a mass shooting on Election Day in the United States. The plot was orchestrated by ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of ISIS, and raises questions about the vetting process for Afghan evacuees.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has successfully thwarted an ISIS-K-inspired terrorist plot aimed at carrying out a mass shooting in the United States on Election Day. Last week, the FBI arrested Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, in Oklahoma on charges of planning to purchase two AK-47 rifles to execute the attack.
ISIS Plot to Mass Shoot on Election Day Foiled by FBI, Raising Concerns about Vetting Process
According to officials, Tawhedi was in contact with an individual known as "Malik," an affiliate of ISIS-K. The FBI tracked Tawhedi's donations to an ISIS-linked charity and his online consumption of ISIS propaganda.
In a parallel development, a family member of Tawhedi was arrested in Haute-Garonne, France, on charges of planning a separate attack. The 22-year-old individual was apprehended along with two other people.
ISIS Plot to Mass Shoot on Election Day Foiled by FBI, Raising Concerns about Vetting Process
The FBI credited the successful disruption of the plot to the cooperation between the United States and French law enforcement agencies. The FBI emphasized its commitment to preventing terrorist attacks both domestically and internationally.
Tawhedi had previously worked as a security guard for the CIA in Afghanistan. Fox News reported that he did not undergo proper vetting by the State Department for special immigrant status (SIV). U.S. officials initially claimed that Tawhedi was vetted three times, but later admitted that the third check was never conducted.
ISIS Plot to Mass Shoot on Election Day Foiled by FBI, Raising Concerns about Vetting Process
Three sources disputed the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) assertion that Tawhedi's vetting was thorough. A 2022 DHS Inspector General Report revealed that DHS did not provide evidence to support its claim of "recurrent vetting processes." The report also stated that DHS admitted or paroled evacuees without full vetting due to incomplete or missing information in government databases.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has declined to answer questions about Tawhedi's presence in the U.S. Despite DHS's claims of rigorous vetting, gaps in the process have raised concerns about the efficacy of the screening measures for Afghan evacuees.
ISIS Plot to Mass Shoot on Election Day Foiled by FBI, Raising Concerns about Vetting Process
The arrest of Tawhedi has sparked worries among lawmakers about the potential for undetected threats among Afghan evacuees. They have emphasized the need for thorough vetting procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The FBI continues to investigate the plot and potential links between Tawhedi and other individuals or groups. The ongoing investigation aims to gather further intelligence and mitigate any residual risks associated with the foiled attack.
