Current:Home > MyJudge orders Afghan man accused of planning Election Day attack in US to remain in custody-LoTradeCoin
Judge orders Afghan man accused of planning Election Day attack in US to remain in custody
View Date:2024-12-25 15:17:15
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allowed into the U.S. while he had a pending application for resident status, but that his parole status has since been revoked.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! (913)
Related
- See Chris Evans' Wife Alba Baptista Show Her Sweet Support at Red One Premiere
- Steve Kerr's DNC speech shows why he's one of the great activists of our time
- When is the first day of fall? What to know about the start of the autumnal season
- Stock market today: Wall Street pulls closer to records after retailers top profit forecasts
- Fire crews on both US coasts battle wildfires, 1 dead; Veterans Day ceremony postponed
- Lily Collins Shares Insight Into Bond With Kickass Sandra Bullock
- 2-year-old killed by tram on Maryland boardwalk
- Nebraska lawmakers pass bills to slow the rise of property taxes. Some are pushing to try harder.
- Why Outer Banks Fans Think Costars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Used Stunt Doubles Amid Rumored Rift
- Trial date set for June for man accused of trying to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh
Ranking
- Jason Kelce Offers Up NSFW Explanation for Why Men Have Beards
- Taylor Swift reveals Eras Tour secrets in 'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart' music video
- The Story Behind Ben Affleck's Not Going Anywhere Message on Jennifer Lopez's Engagement Ring
- Mall guard tells jurors he would not have joined confrontation that led to man’s death
- UConn, Kansas State among five women's college basketball games to watch this weekend
- Harris’ family members are popping up around Chicago this week during the DNC. Here’s who’s who
- PHOTO COLLECTION: Election 2024 DNC Details
- Iowa abortion providers dismiss legal challenge against state’s strict law now that it’s in effect
Recommendation
-
Ryan Reynolds Clarifies Taylor Swift’s Role as Godmother to His Kids With Blake Lively
-
7-year-old found safe after boat capsizes on fishing trip; her 2 grandfathers found dead
-
'Backyard Sports' returns: 5 sports video games we'd love to see return next
-
Democrats get a third-party hopeful knocked off Pennsylvania ballot, as Cornel West tries to get on
-
Eva Longoria Shares She and Her Family Have Moved Out of the United States
-
3-year-old girl is among 9 people hurt in 2 shootings in Mississippi capital city
-
Arkansas county agrees to $3 million settlement over detainee’s 2021 death in jail
-
NYC parks worker charged with murder as a hate crime in killing of migrant