An 18-year-old from Idaho named Alexander Mercurio was arrested for plotting to kill churchgoers in his town in the name of ISIS, according to court documents unsealed on Monday. He was charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and investigators alleged that he planned to attack at least one church on April 7 with guns, knives, and flammable chemicals. Mercurio allegedly wrote to an FBI source about his plans to carry out an act of martyrdom before the end of Ramadan and pledge his allegiance to ISIS.
Prosecutors described an evolution of beliefs that began in 2022, with messages and posts showing Mercurio’s interest in ISIS and his parents’ dissatisfaction with his religious beliefs. He allegedly had jihadi chants on his electronic devices, posted pro-ISIS material online, and communicated with a terror-affiliated group chat. Earlier this year, he expressed his desire to die a martyr and donate his money to ISIS. His plan involved attacking his father, stealing his guns, and using them in the attack, as well as using chemicals to destroy the churches he targeted.
Charging documents stated that Mercurio declared his allegiance to ISIS on April 3, holding a knife and taking a photo in front of an ISIS flag. Despite being asked by an FBI source if he planned to postpone his attack, Mercurio allegedly insisted that he would not delay. The FBI executed a search warrant at his home and arrested him one day before the planned attack, seizing weapons and other materials. Attorney General Merrick Garland commended the FBI for preventing the attack, and it was reported that Mercurio did not have legal representation at that time.
The charges against Mercurio come shortly after federal law enforcement agencies issued a bulletin warning of potential threats to public gatherings in the United States following a deadly terror attack on a Russian concert hall claimed by ISIS-K. The bulletin did not provide specifics but mentioned that ISIS-aligned media groups had encouraged attacks against mass gatherings. Mercurio’s case highlights the ongoing threat of radicalization and domestic terrorism, as individuals like him become influenced by extremist ideologies and plan attacks on innocent civilians. The swift action of law enforcement prevented a tragedy in this case, but it underscores the need for vigilance and collaboration to combat terrorism and protect communities from violent extremism.
