Oklahoma Man with ISIS Ties Planned Attack
A 20-year-old man from Oklahoma, who expressed allegiance to ISIS, reportedly considered targeting the iconic Oklahoma Sooners football stadium. This revelation comes from court documents released recently, detailing threats he made following terrorist attacks.
The University of Oklahoma’s stadium has the capacity to hold over 80,000 fans and regularly broadcasts games across the country.
Landon Kyle Swinford is currently facing sentencing after pleading guilty to a felony for a separate incident involving threats to bomb a synagogue. Notably, it appears he had other plans in mind, including the stadium, as mentioned in a prosecutor’s memo.
After attending an OU game with his grandparents on September 30, 2023, Swinford contacted a law enforcement officer posing as an undercover agent. He remarked on the existing security measures, suggesting that the stadium could be a potential attack target.
Swinford allegedly scouted the stadium accompanied by the undercover agent, who was pretending to share his extremist views.
Following these interactions, Swinford reached out to undercover agents on social media after seeing ISIS propaganda, with their exchanges continuing from May to October of 2023.
Beyond the stadium, he also shared plans about traveling to Tunisia to participate in militant activities. Additionally, Swinford mentioned considering a Voodoo temple in New Orleans as another target, discussing the logistics of creating an explosion using butane and propane.
Prosecutors disclosed that he stated the need for more people—around two to five—for his operation at the New Orleans site. He indicated a plan to set the place ablaze and cause an explosion with the gas tanks.
However, as per reports, Swinford’s ambitions faced challenges due to financial constraints. In October 2023, authorities found Muslim garments in his possession, which further complicated matters.
According to court documents, authorities concluded that Swinford posed no immediate threat to the Oklahoma community, as various barriers—including money and travel—would likely delay any potential plans he had.
Swinford had also enrolled in an Aviation Mechanics School, set to begin in February 2024, but was interviewed by the FBI the month prior.
Last summer, a federal judge indicted him, and he now faces up to 45 years in prison for the threats made.
