The FBI announced that ISIS-K was behind a recently foiled terrorist plot aimed at carrying out a mass shooting on Wednesday's US Election Day.
The FBI arrested Nasir Ahmad Tauhedi, 27, in Oklahoma last week on suspicion of planning to purchase two AK-47 rifles to carry out the attack. Officials said Tauhedi had been in contact with a person named Malik who belonged to ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of ISIS.
Tauhedi previously worked as a security guard for the CIA in Afghanistan, but Fox News reported that he has not been vetted by the State Department for Special Immigrant Status (SIV).
The FBI said it tracked Tauhedi as he donated to ISIS-related charities and viewed ISIS propaganda online. Members of Taouedi's family were also arrested in Paris this week on suspicion of planning another attack, according to France's anti-terrorism public prosecutor's office.
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In the photo, Nasir Ahmad Tawhidi is seen making the 'Tawhid' gesture. (Ministry of Justice)
The identity of the family member in France has not been released, but authorities said the person, 22, was arrested along with two others.
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U.S. officials claimed last week that Tauhedi had been vetted three times. The first time was when he served with the CIA in Afghanistan, the second time was when he came to the United States on Humanitarian Parole from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the withdrawal, and the third time was when he was approved for SIV. Situation after arriving in America
President Biden's administration has now confirmed that the third check was never sent out.
Photo of Nasir Ahmad Tauhedi and his children in July. There, he is said to have explained to his daughter and another child the “rewards that martyrs receive in the afterlife.” (Ministry of Justice)
Tauhedi entered the United States in September 2021 after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
U.S. officials now say Tawhidi was undergoing a “relapse” test under Operation Welcoming Allies as part of the Department of Homeland Security's humanitarian parole.
Although the Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly said no red flags were identified at any point in Taweedi's review, three officials said the department characterized the review process as “thorough.” strongly objected to.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas declined to answer questions about Nasir Ahmad Tawhidi's presence in the United States. (Getty Images)
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According to a 2022 DHS Inspector General report, DHS did not provide data or evidence to support the claim that “a periodic review process was established for all paroled Afghan evacuees during their parole period.” Ta. The report also notes that DHS is admitting or paroling evacuees who have not been adequately screened for entry into the United States. In many cases, the information used to vet evacuees through U.S. government databases, such as names, dates of birth, identification numbers, and travel document data, had been compromised. Inaccurate, incomplete, or missing.
Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich and Bill Melugin contributed to this report
