Idaho Teen Arrested for ISIS-Inspired Church Attack Plot

An 18-year-old from Idaho, Alexander Mercurio, was arrested for allegedly planning to attack a church in the name of ISIS. Court documents revealed his interest in ISIS and his plan to carry out an act of martyrdom before the end of Ramadan. He allegedly intended to pledge his allegiance to ISIS and had planned to attack churches in his town using guns, knives, and flammable chemicals. The FBI foiled his plans and arrested him, seizing weapons and materials from his family's home. This comes amid a recent bulletin warning of possible threats to public gatherings in the U.S. from threat actors inspired by a deadly terror attack on a Russian concert hall.