An Afghan national has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly planning a terrorist attack on Election Day. The individual, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, had previously worked in a security role for the CIA in Afghanistan. Tawhedi, along with unnamed co-conspirators, including a juvenile who is his brother-in-law, took steps to carry out the attack in the U.S. They sold their family home and belongings, were in the process of relocating their family abroad, and were purchasing firearms and ammunition.
Tawhedi, 27 years old, traveled to the U.S. in September 2021, shortly after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. He was paroled into the U.S. on Sept. 9, 2021, and has a pending application for lawful permanent resident status based on a Special Immigrant Visa petition. Special Immigrant Visas are offered to individuals who worked with the U.S. armed forces or as interpreters in Iraq or Afghanistan.
According to a U.S. official, every Afghan resettled in the U.S. undergoes a rigorous screening process, regardless of the U.S. agency they worked with. This includes thorough checks against various U.S. records and holdings. The CIA, where Tawhedi was previously employed, declined to comment on the matter.
Federal investigators claim that Tawhedi sought access to surveillance and security cameras in Washington, D.C., and looked for locations with lenient gun laws. He and his brother-in-law received two AK-47 rifles shortly before their arrest. In an interview with investigators, Tawhedi admitted to purchasing the weapons to carry out an attack on Election Day, targeting large gatherings of people with the expectation of martyrdom.
Tawhedi remains in custody and is set to appear in court on Oct. 17 for a detention hearing. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that every Afghan national entering the U.S. is screened and vetted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals. She emphasized that immediate action is taken if any individual is deemed a threat to public safety.
The case highlights the importance of thorough screening processes for individuals entering the U.S., especially in light of potential security threats. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to safeguard the country against terrorist activities and underscores the need for vigilance in identifying and preventing such threats.
