A new report reveals that an Afghan man accused of planning an ISIS-inspired election day terrorist attack in the United States worked for the CIA in Afghanistan.
Nasir Ahmad Tauhedi, 27, who was arrested in Oklahoma on Monday on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack, was employed as a security guard for the CIA, NBC News reported, citing multiple sources. He was not a CIA informant.
When and how long did Tauhedi work in security before coming to the United States in 2021, just weeks after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan and the last U.S. troops withdrew from the war-torn country? was not immediately obvious.
It is also unclear whether there were any indications that Mr. Tauhedi had ties to Islamic extremists before he entered the United States, sources told NBC.
Tawedi was living in Oklahoma City on a special immigrant visa at the time of his arrest, according to the Department of Justice.
NBC sources said this meant Mr Tawhidi should have undergone rigorous testing before entering the country.
More than 70,000 Afghans have been granted visas by the Biden-Harris administration following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“All Afghans resettled in the United States undergo a rigorous vetting and vetting process, regardless of which agency they work with,” the official told the outlet.
“That process includes cross-checking all U.S. records and holdings.”
Tawhidi was still on parole pending immigration proceedings when federal authorities detained him on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack, according to the Justice Department.
The Department of Homeland Security’s parole program allows eligible Afghans who have assisted Americans, despite the danger to themselves or loved ones, to apply to enter the United States with their families.
It is unclear exactly how Tauhedi qualified for the visa.
Federal authorities have not yet disclosed how Mr. Tauhedi and his alleged plot came under surveillance.
After his arrest, Taweedi allegedly told investigators that he planned the attack to coincide with next month’s election day and that he and his co-conspirators would die as martyrs.
The indictment alleges that in recent weeks, the suspect has ordered an AK-47 rifle, liquidated his family’s assets, and purchased a one-way ticket for his wife and child to return to Afghanistan, all in order to further his plans for the attack. It is said that measures have been taken.
Tauhedi is charged with conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State.
