By Jack Forrest, CNN
(CNN) — The FBI arrested a man on Saturday after he allegedly made plans to attack churches in Idaho and pledged his allegiance to ISIS, the Justice Department said.
Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to a Justice Department news release. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted the investigation.
Mercurio planned to attack churches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Sunday “using weapons, including knives, firearms, and fire,” according to court documents cited by the Justice Department.
Investigators believe Mercurio’s alleged efforts to carry out an attack intensified following the March attack that killed 144 people at a concert hall complex near Moscow, according to a US law enforcement official. Russian and US authorities have blamed an ISIS group for that attack.
CNN could not immediately identify an attorney for Mercurio.
According to court documents, Mercurio had online and in-person meetings with a confidential source working with the FBI and “proceeded to express his support for terrorist organizations, specifically ISIS.”
He planned to attack a church on April 7, 2024, which he selected so that it would occur before the conclusion of Ramadan, FBI Task Force officer John Taylor said in an affidavit.
In the video, Mercurio is seen holding a knife in front of an ISIS flag, court documents said.
He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison if convicted, according to the Justice Department. He is currently in custody awaiting his initial court appearance.
CNN’s Rashard Rose, Melissa Alonso, Evan Perez and Hannah Rabinowitz contributed to this report.
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