Idaho teen, 18, who pledged his support to ISIS is arrested moments before he ‘planned to attack churches with guns, knives and fire’

A teen who pledged his support to ISIS was arrested moments before he planned to attack multiple churches in Idaho. 

Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, was arrested over the weekend by the Justice Department after allegedly planning attacks on local churches in Coeur d’Alene in the name of ISIS. 

A criminal complaint states that Mercurio had planned to carry out the attacks using guns, knives, and fire on Sunday. He now faces charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS.

During a search of his parents’ home, police found ‘items consistent with his planned attack, including a ‘metal pipe, handcuffs, folding saw, head coverings, two cannisters of butane fuel, and machete.’ 

Police also found multiple rifles and handguns in his father’s bedroom.

Mercurio ‘stated he intended to incapacitate his father with a pipe, handcuff him, and use the firearms locked in the closet to attack the church,’ court documents say.

According to the affidavit, the 18-year-old used his school-issued laptop to research and plan a terrorist attack. 

Mercurio allegedly told the informant that he once ‘drank the Kool-aid of white supremacy,’ before finding ‘more purpose’ in ISIS.

Mercurio expressed said there ‘too many churches’ to choose from when scouting a location for the attack. 

‘I am going to fix that real soon,’ he allegedly said.

The teen also expressed his desire to carry out an attack ‘partially for the sake of satiating some kind of bloodlust,’ according to the affidavit.

He planned to donate his money to ISIS after the ‘martyrdom’ mission, the affidavit said. 

FBI director Christopher Wray called the attack plan ‘truly horrific.’ 

‘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 in a statement released Monday. 

‘This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to stop those who wish to commit acts of violence on behalf of – or inspired by – foreign terrorist groups.’ 

Mercurio currently remains in custody awaiting his first court appearance.

If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland praised the FBI’s investigative efforts and emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to pursuing and holding accountable individuals involved in acts of terrorism against the United States. 

‘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,’ said  Garland in a statement. 

‘Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was taken into custody before he could act, and he is now charged with attempting to support ISIS’s mission of terror and violence. The Justice Department will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who would commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States.’ 

Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI emphasized the importance of vigilance in detecting and reporting instances of self-radicalization.

‘This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities,’ said Sinha. ‘Protecting the American people from terrorism remains the FBI’s number one priority, and we continue to encourage the public to report anything suspicious to the FBI or your local law enforcement.’

‘Across the Department of Justice, and in my office, we have no higher calling than to protect our nation and our communities from terrorism. Along with our law enforcement partners, my office will always remain laser-focused on this part of our mission,’ said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho. 

‘I want to thank the FBI for its tireless work on this investigation and its thorough efforts to prevent violence. The support from local law enforcement was also integral to successfully disrupting the alleged plot.’