Officials have revealed that a plan to carry out a political assassination in the United States with ties to the Iranian government has been thwarted.
Asif Merchant, a man from Pakistan, was apprehended on July 12 for reportedly collaborating with a hired killer to execute the assassinations in late August or early September, potentially targeting prominent U.S. figures, such as former President Trump.
Merchant faces one charge of conspiring to murder a U.S. official, an offense that could result in life imprisonment. Prosecutors assert that this was done at the behest of individuals abroad.
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According to federal prosecutors, Merchant arrived in New York City in April with the purpose of hiring a hit man to carry out the assassination of political figures in the U.S.
He made contact with an individual whom he believed would assist him, but that person alerted the FBI and became a confidential source for the investigation.
Merchant had requested 25 men to stage a protest as a distraction following the murder, as well as a woman to conduct reconnaissance. Furthermore, Merchant allegedly intended to pilfer documents from the victim’s residence, organize protests at political rallies, and carry out assassinations.
Court documents reveal Merchant’s statement that “the people who will be targeted are the ones who are hurting Pakistan and the world, [the] Muslim world. These are not normal people.”
Additionally, he used coded language to convey his plans, such as using ‘tee-shirt’ to mean ‘protest,’ ‘flannel shirt’ for ‘stealing,’ and ‘fleece jacket’ for committing an assassination. The phrase “denim jacket” was used to refer to “sending money.”
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York stated, “Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil. This prosecution demonstrates that this Office and the entire U.S. Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials, and our citizens from foreign threats.”
Merchant is currently being held in custody, with no bond being set at his initial court appearance.
Fortunately, the purported scheme was thwarted when it was discovered that the hitman Merchant had collaborated with was actually an undercover FBI agent.
This investigation highlights the unwavering dedication and effort of FBI agents, analysts, and prosecutors in New York, Houston, and Dallas who effectively neutralized this international threat.
It is important to clarify that Merchant’s alleged foiled plot is unrelated to the shooting of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Investigators have confirmed that the targets encompassed individuals from various affiliations, not solely those associated with Trump.
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