In a disturbing turn of events, the FBI announced on Tuesday that it has arrested an Afghan national, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, for allegedly plotting a mass-casualty attack on Election Day. Tawhedi, 27, was apprehended in Oklahoma City and charged with planning to strike “soft targets” next month. Federal officials say he and an unidentified co-conspirator—described as a juvenile and reportedly the brother of Tawhedi’s wife—pledged allegiance to ISIS and planned to “die as martyrs.”
Tawhedi arrived in the United States in September 2021, mere weeks after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Since then, according to the Department of Justice, he’s been consuming ISIS propaganda, donating to organizations that are known fronts for the group, and associating with individuals on the FBI’s terror watchlist. A photograph from July shows Tawhedi reading ISIS material about martyrdom to two children, highlighting the troubling extent of his radicalization.
The FBI had been monitoring Tawhedi’s activity after an informant, who initially connected with him through a Facebook marketplace ad, invited him to a gun range. There, Tawhedi purchased AK-47 rifles from an undercover agent, leading to his arrest on Monday. The suspect reportedly admitted his intentions to carry out an attack on Election Day, which he viewed as an opportunity for a high-profile terrorist event.
The arrest of Tawhedi raises serious questions about the vetting process for Afghan refugees resettled in the United States following the U.S. withdrawal. At the time, the Biden-Harris administration assured the public that these individuals were thoroughly vetted. However, the chaotic nature of the evacuation from Afghanistan cast significant doubts on the robustness of this process. In February 2022, the Department of Defense’s Inspector General released a report stating that more than 50 Afghans resettled in the U.S. were identified as potential security risks, and for many others, adequate vetting was impossible due to a lack of verifiable records.
This case is yet another example of how significant security lapses have escalated under the current administration. In fact, since President Biden took office, the number of individuals on the terror watchlist apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border has jumped to 382—up from just 11 during the previous administration. As Election Day approaches, the American people deserve answers about how this administration plans to address the growing threats posed by inadequately vetted refugees and the surge in illegal crossings by terror-watchlisted individuals.
Tawhedi’s arrest is a reminder that national security must remain a top priority, especially in light of the Biden administration’s inability to curb these growing threats. The time for assurances has passed; what Americans need now is action.
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