The U.S. Justice Department recently announced that a plot by an 18-year-old Idaho man to attack Christians at a church had been thwarted. The man, Alexander Scott Mercurio, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and planned to use knives and guns to attack churches in northern Idaho on April 7. He was arrested by FBI agents a day before the planned attack and has been charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Mercurio’s plan was to start fires and use weapons to attack individuals at churches in the city of Coeur d’Alene. This city is located just miles east of Idaho’s border with Washington and has a population of 55,000. The date for the planned attack was selected because it falls on the Sunday before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. According to the FBI’s criminal complaint, Mercurio had pledged his allegiance to ISIS and intended to carry out attacks on its behalf.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force worked diligently to prevent the attack and apprehend Mercurio before he could execute his plan. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Mercurio planned a violent killing spree and was charged with attempting to support ISIS’s mission of terror and violence. FBI Director Christopher Wray commended the agents who stopped the attack, stating that it was a truly horrific plot. Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha also warned about the dangers of self-radicalization and encouraged the public to report anything suspicious to the FBI or local law enforcement.
Mercurio could face up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty of the charge of attempting to assist ISIS. This arrest reminds us of the heightened threat of terror attacks on U.S. soil, as FBI Director Wray warned last year during the Christmas season. The planned attack in Idaho is a reminder that the threat of terrorism is still present and that we must remain vigilant in protecting our communities. The FBI continues to work with law enforcement partners to prevent these types of attacks and encourages the public to report any suspicious activity.
The FBI arrested 18-year-old Alexander Scott Mercurio on Saturday after he allegedly made plans to attack churches in Idaho and pledged his allegiance to ISIS, the Justice Department said. pic.twitter.com/hyC8758VlB
— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) April 9, 2024
The arrest of Alexander Scott Mercurio is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the FBI and its partners in ensuring the safety of American citizens. Thanks to their efforts, the planned attack against churches in Idaho was prevented, and Mercurio will be held accountable for his involvement. The public can help in the fight against terrorism by remaining aware of their surroundings and reporting any suspicious activity to law enforcement. We must all work together to prevent
Send him to GITMO.
ah yes, islamic nutbars, gotta love them. and all in country should be executed.