Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, was arrested on Saturday by the FBI for a plot to murder churchgoers and burn their churches to the ground. The Idaho teen reportedly had plans to attack those churches on behalf of ISIS. The plan was set for April 7 so that it would happen before the end of Ramadan, but Mercurio was arrested the day before. You can read the complaint at this link.
“The defendant allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS and sought to attack people attending churches in Idaho, a truly horrific plan which was detected and thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.” FBI Director Christopher Wray
According to AZ Central, Mercurio’s plot extended to 21 different churches in Idaho. The investigation began when the Idaho teen reached out online to people he believed were connected with ISIS (which, as usual, turned out to be confidential human informants). He reportedly spread ISIS propaganda online, as well as expressed the desire to travel outside the US to formally join the terror organization and provide material support.
Mercurio’s plan involved kidnapping or killing his own father with a metal pipe to access his guns. He also planned to use a machete, “flame covered weapons”, explosives, and knives in the attack. Law enforcement found a metal pipe, a machete, and a fixed blade knife during a search of the suspect’s residence.
The FBI investigator also said Mercurio “made a ba’yah statement, pledging his allegiance to ISIS and stating his intention to die while killing others on behalf of ISIS.” FOX
Mr. Big Time Terrorist didn’t think this through very well. Many of the churches in North Idaho now have trained armed security, which happened after Pastor Tim Remington was shot and severely wounded after a service several years ago. The news reports did not specify which church(es) Mercurio targeted, but pick the wrong one, and he’d have felt some serious consequences.
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Mercurio was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
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Related:
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- Facebook disables account for sounding alarm on threat to U.S. : Nexus to BANNED: How Facebook Enables Militant Islamic Jihad
- Thanks, Biden. Those Terrorists in the US Aren’t Here to Play Checkers
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