An 18-year-old Afghan national and U.S. lawful permanent resident, Abdullah Haji Zada, pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges for his role in a foiled Election Day attack planned in Oklahoma. Zada admitted in court to receiving firearms and ammunition with the intention of carrying out a Daesh (ISIS)-inspired attack in November 2024. He entered his plea in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma on Thursday.
Co-Conspirator Still Awaits Trial
Zada and co-defendant Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, were arrested in October 2024 following a federal investigation. Authorities allege the two men plotted to carry out a mass-casualty terrorist attack on behalf of Daesh, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Tawhedi, who previously worked as a security guard at a U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, is also an Afghan citizen residing in Oklahoma. He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial, now scheduled for May 12, 2026, following several continuances.
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Weapons, Ammunition, and “Martyrdom” Plans
According to court records and a criminal complaint, Zada and Tawhedi acquired two AK-47-style rifles, ten magazines, and 500 rounds of ammunition. The weapons were obtained from an undercover FBI asset posing as an arms dealer. Investigators revealed that Tawhedi and Zada intended to target large gatherings on Election Day and were prepared to die in the attack, expecting to be “martyred.”
The two were first identified after advertising the sale of personal items, including a computer, on Facebook. A confidential informant used the pretense of buying the computer to make contact and arrange a meeting. This led to the discovery of their plot and the sting operation that resulted in their arrest.
Adult Charges Despite Teen’s Age
Though Zada was only 17 at the time of his arrest, he was charged and prosecuted as an adult. He pleaded guilty to receiving and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition with the intent to commit a federal crime of terrorism. As part of the plea agreement, Zada faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also agreed to forfeit his permanent residency and will be deported to Afghanistan after completing his sentence. Additionally, he waived his right to appeal and to seek asylum in the United States.
Federal Officials Emphasize National Security Priorities
“This guilty plea underscores our commitment to thwarting terrorist threats and bringing perpetrators to justice,” said Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The investigation was led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Oklahoma City, in collaboration with various local and federal agencies.
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Tawhedi, meanwhile, faces multiple charges, including conspiring and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization, as well as receiving firearms for use in a terrorist attack. If convicted, he could receive up to 20 years in prison for each terrorism-related count, and up to 15 years for the firearms charge.