Quote:An 18-year-old student from Idaho was arrested for planning to attack churchgoers in his hometown on behalf of ISIS, according to federal authorities.

Alexander Scott Mercurio, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is accused of "attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS" and pledging his allegiance to the terrorist organization, a Justice Department news release said.
In addition to supporting ISIS, Mercurio allegedly conspired to attack individuals at over 21 churches in Coeur d'Alene on Sunday with various weapons — including knives, guns and fire, according to the release.
Mercurio has been charged with "attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization," the Justice Department said. He could receive a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. 
Court filings on Tuesday show Mercurio is without legal counsel for his case.



Alexander Mercurio intentionally planned to attack churches before the end of Ramadan, feds say

The FBI began looking into Mercurio when the 18-year-old reached out to "confidential human sources" online and revealed his support for ISIS and terrorist organizations, according to court documents filed in the District of Idaho. The confidential human source met Mercurio in person, and he again expressed his support for ISIS, the documents continued.
"Mercurio spread ISIS propaganda online and solicited ISIS's involvement in and approval of his propaganda efforts, discussed traveling from the U.S. to join ISIS, considered and planned ways to support ISIS financially, and most recently, set forth a plan to assault his father with a metal pipe, acquire his father's firearms and attack a local church," according to court records.
Mercurio's behavior "escalated" at the beginning of 2024 when he began planning a suicide attack on churches in Coeur d'Alene, the court records show. His plan involved using flame-covered weapons, explosives, knives, a machete, a pipe and firearms, according to the court records.
He chose a specific church and intentionally planned the attack to occur on April 7 because that meant it would happen before the end of Ramadan, court documents show.