The FBI arrested an 18-calendar year-old from Idaho in link to his “actually horrific” and “violent plot” to kill churchgoers in his town this past weekend in the identify of ISIS, the Justice Department said.
Alexander Mercurio of Coeur d’Alene is experiencing federal charges of supplying materials aid to a selected overseas terrorist firm. In accordance to the FBI, Mercurio plotted to “incapacitate his father, restrain him utilizing handcuffs, and steal his firearms to use for utmost casualties” in addition to utilizing knives and lethal substances to have out his attack this past Sunday, April 7.
“The defendant allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS and sought to assault persons attending church buildings in Idaho, a genuinely horrific plan which was detected and thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Undertaking Pressure,” FBI Director Christopher Wray stated in a statement.
Authorities were being initial alerted when Mercurio, who lives in Coeur d’Alene, “achieved out to private human sources on the net and indicated his assist for ISIS and terrorist businesses, much more generally.”
“Mercurio unfold ISIS propaganda online and solicited ISIS’s involvement in and acceptance of his propaganda initiatives, reviewed touring from the United States to be a part of ISIS, [and] thought of and prepared methods to help ISIS monetarily,” according to the FBI grievance.
“His attack strategy included making use of flame-included weapons, explosives, knives, a machete, a pipe and finally firearms,” the complaint said. “His plan grew much more specific as he finally identified the particular church and date on which he planned to assault.”
The put up FBI Arrests Idaho 18-Calendar year-Outdated for Alleged Plot to Attack Churches in Identify of ISIS initial appeared on The International Desk | by Lisa Daftari.