Authorities have arrested a young man suspected of planning to attack a church in his hometown of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on behalf of the Islamic terrorist group ISIS.
Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, was taken into custody on Saturday as FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force officials investigated the incident, NBC News reported. report Tuesday.
The arrest came the day before he allegedly planned to attack people during a Sunday church service.
black and white image show Suspect:
The Department of Justice has charged 18-year-old Alexander Mercurio with providing material support to ISIS after helping at least three CHS and undercover agents plan an attack on a church before being arrested by the FBI. .
Here he is posing with a flag given to him by CHS in a photo taken by CHS. pic.twitter.com/wA3kWGm6zc
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) April 9, 2024
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs said in a press release Monday. Said The suspects were charged with attempting to provide material support or supplies to a designated terrorist group.
If convicted of this crime, Mercurio could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Mercurio pledged allegiance to ISIS and intended to carry out the attack on its behalf, according to an affidavit supporting the criminal charges. The suspect had planned to attack individuals at a church in Coeur d’Alene on April 7th using weapons including knives, firearms, and firearms.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) conducted an investigation and thwarted Mercurio’s violent plot. Mercurio is currently in custody awaiting his first court-arranged court appearance.
NBC reported that Mercurio detailed his plan to target 21 churches in his area in a message he sent to a “confidential source” at the FBI.
The suspects reportedly “stopped near a church, armed themselves and stormed the temple, killing as many people as possible before inevitably scattering, then burning down the temple and fleeing the scene.” ” he is said to have said.
When authorities arrested him at his home, they found an ISIS flag, a butane container, a lighter, handcuffs, a knife, a pipe, a machete and a gun belonging to his father.
The NBC article states, “FBI investigates fundraising networks that use virtual currencies and other platforms to support ISIS in Syria and its Afghan affiliate, ISIS Wilayat Khorasan (known as ISIS-K). “He said he recognized Mercurio inside,” investigators said, adding: It was discovered that the young man and three others had given money to individuals in Gaza.
According to 4 News Now, Mercurio issued The direct message to my online contact was as follows: “Thirst for mayhem and terror”:
Before Easter, ISIS had called on Muslims to attack Christians and Jews around the world as Ramadan ended, Breitbart News reported on March 31.
“The directive was issued via telegram by Islamic State spokesperson Abu Hudayfa al-Ansari, who also said that the city hall in Moscow, where at least 143 people were killed by ISIS-K terrorists, “He praised the recent deadly attack on a music venue,” the outlet said.
