Alexander Scott Mercurio, an 18-year-old from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was arrested for planning to attack several churches in his hometown in the name of ISIS during the last days of Ramadan. The arrest followed a plot that included the use of guns, knives, and fire to carry out the attacks. Court documents revealed Mercurio's intention to kill churchgoers during services, a plan he had been devising for months without realizing he was communicating with FBI informants. Mercurio, described as mentally disturbed with learning disabilities and who had converted to Islam, expressed a desire for jihad and martyrdom, pledging his allegiance to ISIS in a recorded statement days before the planned attack. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force intervened, thwarting the violent plot. Mercurio now faces a federal charge of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, Mercurio faces up to 20 years in federal prison. This case has raised discussions on self-radicalization and the challenges of preventing homegrown terrorism.
📍"Alexander S. Mercurio, 18, planned to attack churches in a northern Idaho city using a metal pipe, butane fuel, a machete and his father’s guns, according to federal prosecutors who charged him with attempting to provide material support to the ISIS." https://t.co/S4pAfb9J2S
The arrest of a Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, resident for allegedly attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State brings the total number of individuals arrested for ISIS-related offenses in the United States to 252. A deeper look at the #'s: https://t.co/jiIgPYnJAn
An 18-year-old in Idaho planned to attack churches in Coeur d'Alene on behalf of ISIS. Home-grown radicalism is a problem, but you've gotta admit, they really do always look like absolute creeps. https://t.co/HgVwn3b1vq
Idaho Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS https://t.co/iIzCjJ8AWF
Man arrested, accused of pledging to ISIS, planned church attacks: DOJ https://t.co/uFMkvA4AcC
18-Year-Old Arrested For ISIS-Inspired Church Terror Plot. Read more: https://t.co/d0mwjebaFi An 18-year-old from Idaho was apprehended in the early hours on Saturday, accused of plotting a t...
Idaho teen charged with planning church attacks, accused of supporting ISIS. https://t.co/6Y2hjm9K5F Click the image to read more:
Feds arrest Idaho teen for ‘violent plot’ to attack churches for ISIS https://t.co/zt6JsLAyJX
The FBI have thwarted a teenager’s plan to ‘steal father’s guns and attack church’ | ✍️ @andreacb27 reports from NYC ⬇️ https://t.co/bEJN3mkDOZ
Idaho Teen Converts to Islam, Devises Nifty Plan to Celebrate Ramadan - https://t.co/mNH0z2rGYi
An Idaho man who converted to Islam was arrested on the accusation that he was planning mass killings at churches before the end of Ramadan. Alexander Mercurio allegedly wanted to become a martyr for Islam by slaughtering Christians. Read: https://t.co/8aeS3ml6D8
18-year-old in Idaho planned to attack more than 21 churches on behalf of ISIS, feds say https://t.co/2RffX8k0t9
An 18-year-old man planned to attack churches in a northern Idaho city using a metal pipe, butane fuel, a machete and, if he could get them, his father's guns, according to federal prosecutors who charged him with attempting to provide material support... https://t.co/H94ZASsYu9
Idaho man accused of planning church attacks with ISIS, DOJ says | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/S81RFLMB19
Teen arrested day before he planned to attack churches in name of ISIS, feds say https://t.co/fPdiCHmizc
An Idaho teen inspired by ISIS, 18-year-old Alexander Scott Mercurio, had been planning for months attacks on churches. He didn’t know he was planning with FBI informants. https://t.co/0ogC0X6Gvy
Idaho teen faces federal terrorism charge; prosecutors say he planned church attack to support ISIS https://t.co/QllLrFknAP https://t.co/UeONCZ7hcw
Idaho teen faces federal terrorism charge. Prosecutors say he planned a church attack to support IS https://t.co/AWJBLs5Yqu
Idaho man faces federal terrorism charge; prosecutors say he planned church attack to support ISIS https://t.co/qAdvYD73sN
Idaho teen charged with planning church attacks, accused of supporting ISIS https://t.co/lblowWTwQd
A teen is facing t*rror*sm charges after he pledged to join lSlS and planned to attack Churches in Idaho including going on a s*icide mission. https://t.co/q6cceaJtKU
Federal prosecutors say an Idaho teenager planned to attack churches using a metal pipe, butane fuel, a machete and, if he could get them, his father's guns, on behalf of the Islamic State group. https://t.co/c0EtwQXgcj
#USA 18 y/o man arrested in #CoeurDAlene, #Idaho on suspicion of plotting jihadism-motivated terrorist attack on behalf of #IslamicState. Suspect allegedly swore allegiance to #IS, planned to attack individuals at churches in Coeur d’Alene. https://t.co/Hs7djN26dx
Idaho 18-year-old accused of terrorism plot against churches https://t.co/uXnKmdspXW
ABC News: "Idaho man arrested for planning attacks on churches in support of ISIS" https://t.co/UFrg2blvlL
18-year-old in Idaho allegedly planned a violent rampage of local churches, after he pledged loyalty to ISIS: NB jihadi, not RWE, in Idaho! #terrorism https://t.co/ghKBHh06yQ
A young man from #Idaho was arrested for planning to attack churches in Idaho on behalf of #ISIS, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement. https://t.co/pFjkYciNO1
Idaho man charged with materially supporting ISIS, planning attacks on churches https://t.co/TSRkdeOMFV https://t.co/TSRkdeOMFV
Authorities say a teenager planned to attack churches in Coeur d'Alene and had detailed his plans to FBI informants posing as Islamic State supporters. https://t.co/aksg9PdJ5E
Idaho teen faces federal terrorism charge. Prosecutors say he planned to attack a church for ISIS https://t.co/agOfqoPqDy
An Idaho teenager was arrested and accused of planning to kill churchgoers during services across his hometown in the name of the Islamic State group, NBC News reports. https://t.co/CObdfkAXky
Idaho teen arrested for allegedly plotting to attack church for ISIS https://t.co/iW42LcuWgC
🚨 FBI: TEENAGE TERRORIST PLOTTING TO BLOW UP CHURCH The FBI arrested Alexander Scott Mercurio just one day before he allegedly planned to attack churches in Idaho in the name of ISIS. FBI Special Agent Shohini Sinha: "This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of… https://t.co/KI2pkpvWtI
18-Year-Old Idaho Man Arrested Just Before Allegedly Carrying Out ISIS Terror Attack On Churches https://t.co/2HD8SXG3fz
A lunatic radicalized by ISIS was just arrested for threatening to attack churchgoers in Idaho. This is what happens when our children are indoctrinated with anti-American sentiment. https://t.co/ufn9JmVgO6
A lunatic radicalized by ISIS was just arrested for threatening to attack church goers in Idaho. This is what happens when our children are indoctrinated with anti-American sentiment. https://t.co/ufn9JmVgO6
FBI arrests man who allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and planned attacks on Idaho churches, DOJ says https://t.co/kta6dUAt4S
Idaho teen accused of planning church attacks in loyalty to Islamic State https://t.co/wIfj9cJpHj
Idaho Teen Arrested for Pledging Allegiance to ISIS and Planning to Attack Churches “This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities.” https://t.co/jSMc9eqBXh
FBI Thwarts ISIS Terrorist Attack, Arrests Teenager Planning to Strike Churches https://t.co/E6NKWZQDVl
The FBI arrested an Idaho man Saturday who allegedly planned to attack churches in the state, and had pledged allegiance to ISIS, according to the Justice Department. https://t.co/0K0IVPz9T1
Idaho teen arrested and accused of planning to kill churchgoers in the name of ISIS https://t.co/rTTNN91WFw via @nbcnews
The Justice Department on Monday announced the arrest of a man they say planned to carry out attacks on churches in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, over the weekend after pledging support to the terror group ISIS. https://t.co/SDzYdfMYVb
Idaho Teen Arrested for Pledging Allegiance to ISIS — Planning to Attack Churches on the Terror Org’s Behalf via @gatewaypundit https://t.co/aypea2lwRs
Teen who pledged loyalty to ISIS busted for ‘truly horrific’ plot to commit mass shootings at Idaho churches: DOJ https://t.co/czJ0CssNKO https://t.co/CCbrBjsTPo
🚨BREAKING: FBI arrests Idaho 18-year-old for 'violent plot' to attack churches in Coeur d’Alene on behalf of ISIS; Justice Department says Alexander Mercurio is now facing a federal charge of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist… https://t.co/oYa4suu00S
FBI Busts an ISIS Operative Planning a Major Attack https://t.co/ON1SLNh6X0
FBI announces a major arrest that thwarted a 'truly horrific' attack. https://t.co/CpnQLljnrd
Entrapment? The FBI targeted a high school student with learning disabilities and convinced him to swear allegiance to ISIS and plan attacks on churches in his Idaho hometown. They arrested the teen who lived with his parents before he had a chance to do anything. https://t.co/UtvQvJmbA7
Entrapment? The FBI targeted a high school student with learning disabilities and convinced him to swear allegiance to ISIS. They convinced him to attack churches in his Idaho hometown. They arrested the teen who lived with his parents before he had a chance to do anything. https://t.co/MmCJMuDxxF
Idaho teen, 18, who pledged his support to ISIS is arrested moments before he 'planned to attack churches with guns, knives and fire' https://t.co/mIOwcrwx6O https://t.co/L8567UBSYp
An Idaho teenager was arrested and accused of planning to kill churchgoers during services across his hometown in the name of the Islamic State group, @NBCNews reports after authorities released the information. https://t.co/rxw8glrFKQ
The FBI claims 18-year-old Alexander Mercurio was on the verge of conducting an alleged terror plot involving attacks on multiple churches in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. Watch the full report: https://t.co/r2hG7KxrfW https://t.co/l7GIutYpdP
Alexander Scott Mercurio had planned to attack several churches in Coeur d'Alene using firearms, knives, and fire. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force detected and thwarted his horrific plan. If convicted, Mercurio could face up to 20 years in federal prison. This case serves… https://t.co/gEb9xtWu1x
🚨JUST IN- FBI Arrests Teen Suspected of Planning Homegrown ISIS Attack on Churches in Idaho📍Coeur d'Alene, ID | Via @OvertonLive The FBI has apprehended 18-year-old Alexander Mercurio of Idaho over the weekend, thwarting his alleged plan to launch a violent assault on… https://t.co/hcqkB9ebfz
The FBI arrested a teen in Idaho for planning to attack churches in the last days of Ramadan, in the name of ISIS. “I don’t have the desire to do anything except jihad… a craving for martyrdom and terror,” he said. This case also tells us that FBI has been investigating IS… https://t.co/RNAz5odyW5 https://t.co/IKbNAESkRx
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant swore an oath of loyalty to ISIS and planned to wage an attack in its name on churches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho” https://t.co/phG9368Mnc
BREAKING NEWS: FBI arrests 18-year-old for 'violent plot' to attack churches on behalf of ISIS, Justice Department says https://t.co/MyomLH8nyz
An Idaho teenager was arrested and accused of planning to kill churchgoers during services across his hometown in the name of the Islamic State group, authorities say. https://t.co/uYzAeHOybq
FBI arrests man who allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS, planned attacks on Idaho churches: DOJ https://t.co/I6H7mm6yYW
Days before the planned attack, the 18-year-old recorded a statement pledging his allegiance to ISIS, court documents said. https://t.co/QumrYuGMMk https://t.co/QumrYuGMMk
Idaho: Teen converts to Islam, plots jihad massacre at multiple churches in Coeur d’Alene - https://t.co/hc1YZkkf79
Idaho man charged in alleged terror plot. The FBI claims the 18-year-old was planning to carry out attacks on churches in support of ISIS. @pierretabc reports. https://t.co/OmrVPct3dv
The FBI arrested a mentally disturbed Islamist-wannabe teen in Idaho for planning to attack churches on the last days of Ramadan, in the name of ISIS. “I don’t have the desire to do anything except jihad… a craving for martyrdom and terror,” he said. https://t.co/aPBTUFK4Fs
The FBI arrested a mentally disturbed Islamist-wannabe teen for planning to attack churches on the last days of Ramadan, in the name of ISIS. “I don’t have the desire to do anything except jihad… a craving for martyrdom and terror,” he said. https://t.co/4sbOUXfMuc
An 18-year-old from Idaho was arrested Saturday and accused of plotting to kill churchgoers in his town in the name of ISIS, according to court documents unsealed Monday. https://t.co/jWNeTrQOwF
Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, is accused of plotting to attack several churches in Coeur d’Alene using guns, knives, and fire. https://t.co/rdQdajaHFo
Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was arrested Saturday for attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS. https://t.co/eEmQKLbGS3
The FBI is a domestic terrorist organization. https://t.co/AbJX5L5aX4