Mohammad Dawood Alokozay was arrested Sunday after allegedly plotting to carry out a terror attack.
In the days leading up to his arrest, Alokozay posted TikTok videos promising to “commit suicide” on anyone and detailing plans for building an improvised explosive device (IED) inside a car taxi. He also pledged to kill “infidels,” drawing responses from fellow radical Muslims offering encouragement.
His attorney says Alokozay has been fully vetted by U.S. immigration authorities through the same program that brought him here, Operation Allies Welcome, which allowed Afghan families fleeing violence after the Taliban takeover to enter the country legally under special immigration protections provided by a directive from President Biden’s administration.
“This is not terrorism,” said attorney Michael S. Smith. “This is just one man with bad ideas.”
Alokozay was arrested Tuesday in Texas. He faces charges of making terrorist threats and conspiracy to commit murder.
In an interview video obtained by the authorities, Alokozay declared his intent: “I am going to commit suicide. I will kill you infidels.” His radical statements drew responses from fellow Muslims in the chat room who said they were proud of him for being so dedicated to their cause and asked how many American lives he planned on ending.
“There is a lot of talk about wanting to bring back what happened in Afghanistan,” Smith said. “But we don’t know what it would take or if there are alternatives.”
Alokozay was admitted into the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome, which brought thousands of Afghan families to safety through special resettlement programs provided by government agencies.
“This program has saved lives,” Smith added. “We need more programs like this focused on vetting potential threats and helping them transition successfully.”