Afghan man held in custody for planned Election Day attack in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma City, a federal judge has ordered an Afghan man, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, to remain in custody while facing charges for allegedly plotting an attack on Election Day. The 27-year-old, who previously worked as a security guard for a U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, was arrested on October 7 after being under federal surveillance for over 40 days. Testimony revealed that Tawhedi and a juvenile co-conspirator sought to acquire AK-47 rifles and planned to target large crowds during the elections. Tawhedi's connections to a broader investigation in France were also disclosed, where his brothers were arrested for plotting a terrorist attack. Both Tawhedi and the individuals in France were reportedly inspired by Islamic State ideology. The Justice Department noted that Tawhedi entered the U.S. on a special immigrant visa in September 2021, shortly after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul, and had been on parole pending immigration status determination. During the court proceedings, it was established that Tawhedi had communicated with an Islamic State-associated account via Telegram, expressing a willingness to act on their directives. His attorney argued for home detention, citing Tawhedi's lack of prior arrests in the U.S. and his employment history. However, the prosecution emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the potential threat he posed. The case highlights the ongoing concerns regarding domestic terrorism and the importance of international cooperation in countering such threats, as evidenced by the coordination between U.S. and French law enforcement agencies in this investigation.