COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – A Coeur d’Alene man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly supporting ISIS and planning a suicide attack on multiple churches.
According to the US Department of Justice, 18-year-old Alexander Scott Mercurio is allegedly a pledged supporter of ISIS and planned to commit a terrorist attack at Coeur d’Alene churches on Sunday.
Court documents submitted by federal prosecutors on Saturday alleged that Mercurio explained his plans via social media with other individuals involved in potential terrorist activity.
Law enforcement claims that he was going to attack local places of worship with knives, guns and flames.
Mercurio was investigated by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and arrested before the purported planned attacks took place.
FBI Director Christopher Wray explained the federal effort to take Mercurio into custody.
“The defendant allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS and sought to attack people attending churches in Idaho, a truly horrific plan which was detected and thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,” Wray said.
Mercurio faces a federal charge for allegedly attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
