The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the FBI detained an 18-year-old in Idaho this past weekend after learning of his “violent plot” and “truly horrific” plan to attack churches in Coeur d’Alene on behalf of the terrorist group ISIS.
Alexander Mercurio has been charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The charge comes after the FBI claimed that Mercurio had planned to attack the northern Idaho resort city on Sunday, April 7. According to the FBI, Mercurio intended to incapacitate his father, restrain him using handcuffs, and steal his firearms to use for maximum casualties, the DOJ said.
In a criminal complaint, the FBI says the investigation began when Mercurio, who is a resident of Coeur d’Alene, “reached out to confidential human sources online and indicated his support for ISIS and terrorist organizations, more generally.”
“Mercurio spread ISIS propaganda online and solicited ISIS’s involvement in and approval of his propaganda efforts, discussed traveling from the United States to join ISIS, [and] considered and planned ways to support ISIS financially,” an FBI investigator noted.
“His attack plan involved using flame-covered weapons, explosives, knives, a machete, a pipe, and ultimately firearms,” the investigator added. “His plan grew more precise as he eventually identified the specific church and date on which he planned to attack.”
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 News added: “But on Saturday afternoon, FBI agents carried out a search warrant at Mercurio’s house and took him into custody while allegedly finding items linked to the plot, including a ‘metal pipe,’ ‘a black Smith and Wesson fixed blade knife’ and a ‘machete,’ according to the complaint. Mercurio now faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted on the federal charge.”
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant swore an oath of loyalty to ISIS and planned to wage an attack in its name on churches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was taken into custody before he could act, and he is now charged with attempting to support ISIS’s mission of terror and violence.
“The Justice Department will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who would commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States,” he added.
FBI Director Christopher Wray noted in the DOJ press release: “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. This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to stop those who wish to commit acts of violence on behalf of – or inspired by – foreign terrorist groups.”
