Idaho man arrested before planned attacks on churches, Justice Department says

The FBI arrested Alexander Scott Mercurio in northern Idaho, who was allegedly attempting to provide support and resources to the Islamic State group, the Justice Department said Monday. The 18-year-old planned to suicide attack churches in the town of Coeur d’Alene with explosives, knives, and fire, according to the criminal complaint. The complaint alleges Mercurio also planned to hit his father with a pipe and handcuff him to steal his guns for use in the attack. Mercurio intentionally planned the assault for Sunday to complete the attack before the end of Ramadan, the Justice Department alleged. Mercurio’s arrest on Saturday should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to many communities in the U.S., said Shohini Sinha, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Salt Lake City office.

How was he stopped in time? FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force found Mercurio had shared support for terrorist organizations online and in person with a confidential source working with investigators. Mercurio allegedly issued a ba’yah statement of allegiance to the Islamic State group before his Saturday arrest, prompting law enforcement to search his home and find an IS flag in his bedroom. They also found butane canisters, lighters, a knife, handcuffs, a pipe, and a machete. Mercurio now faces up to 20 years in prison for federal charges of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated forging terrorist group. According to the Justice Department, he’s presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Dig deeper: Read Jenny Lind Schmitt’s report in WORLD Magazine on the West weighing terror threats posed by ISIS wives who come home.