The US Department of Justice announced the arrest of 27-year-old Afghan citizen Nasir Tawhedi, residing in Oklahoma, on charges of conspiring to commit a terrorist attack on behalf of the Islamic State (IS) in the United States on Election Day.

According to the department, Tawhedi "allegedly took steps to liquidate his family's assets, resettle members of his family overseas, acquire AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, and commit a terrorist attack in the United States."

FBI investigators reviewed texts from electronic devices belonging to the Afghan citizen and concluded that he "was committed to the ideology of a terrorist organization."

During interrogation, the suspect admitted that he intended to commit a terrorist attack on Election Day, and that he and his accomplice, who was also arrested, “sought to become martyrs” and die in the attack.

"Tawhedi was charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and receiving a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, if convicted," the Justice Ministry explained.