The FBI arrested an 18-year-old Idaho man over the weekend who uncovered a “truly horrifying” and “violent plot” to attack a church in Coeur d’Alene on behalf of ISIS, according to the Justice Department.
Alexander Mercurio is now giving material possession to a designated foreign terrorist organization after the FBI said he hatched a plan to “incapacitate his father, handcuff him, and steal the firearms he would use to inflict maximum casualties.” He faces federal charges for attempting to provide aid and supplies. ” in an attack he was scheduled to carry out in the northern Idaho resort city on Sunday, April 7.
“The defendant’s alleged allegiance to ISIS and attack on churchgoers in Idaho was a truly horrifying plan,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. discovered and stopped.”
“The Department of Justice will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who commit acts of terrorism against American people and interests,” added Attorney General Merrick Garland.
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The FBI said Mercurio hinted to a confidential source that he had “intended to do good in carrying out the attack.” (FBI)
The FBI said in a criminal complaint that the investigation began after Mercurio, a Coeur d’Alene resident, “contacted confidential human sources online and expressed support for ISIS and terrorist organizations more generally.” states that.
“Mercurio spread ISIS propaganda online, sought ISIS involvement and approval in his propaganda efforts, and discussed traveling from the United States to join ISIS. [and] “considered and planned ways to financially support ISIS,” FBI agents wrote in the complaint.
“His attack plan included the use of flaming weapons, explosives, knives, machetes, pipes, and ultimately firearms,” the investigator added. “His plans became more precise as he eventually identified the specific churches and dates he planned to attack.”
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A masked Islamic State soldier poses with an ISIS flag in 2015. FBI agents said Mercurio had “discussed traveling from the United States to join ISIS.” (Photo by Getty Images from History/Universal Images Group)
FBI agents also said Mercurio “made a Bayah statement in which he pledged allegiance to ISIS and stated that he was willing to die while killing others for ISIS.”
But on Saturday afternoon, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Mercurio’s home and found items related to the conspiracy, including “metal pipes,” a “black Smith & Wesson fixed-blade knife,” and a “machete.” Mercurio was taken into custody. ” according to the complaint.
ISIS has been waging an online recruitment and propaganda war for years. (Reuters)
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Mercurio currently faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of the federal charges.
