All articles tagged with #assassination plot
Following chants calling for his death at Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral, Donald Trump threatened to decimate Iran if it targets him, as Israel warned of a new Iranian assassination plot and US air strikes continue. Behind-the-scenes diplomacy—led by mediators like Qatar—persists to salvage talks and a security framework, even as both sides issue ultimatums and regional tensions mount.
The Justice Department says a coordinated far-right network, including Tycen Proper, planned to assassinate Donald Trump and other officials at a UFC event near the White House, using drones and a staged distraction before a second-wave attack. With connections formed online via TikTok and encrypted apps, investigators describe a coherent though amateurish extremist movement rooted in Christian nationalist and antisemitic conspiracy theories. The plot was stopped before it could be carried out, highlighting ongoing concerns about domestic terrorism from far-right networks.
A California 31-year-old teacher and engineer, Cole Allen, is charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He told the FBI he didn’t expect to survive the attack, prompting questions about suicide precautions and jail conditions at DC’s jail during a detention hearing. Prosecutors showed video of him approaching security and raising a weapon; if convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Judge Zia Faruqui criticized the jail’s handling of political-violence defendants and vowed closer oversight as Allen awaits further proceedings.
A Pakistani businessman, Asif Merchant, testified in a Brooklyn court that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard pressured him to hire hit men to assassinate a U.S. politician, with Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley named as possible targets; the would-be killers were undercover FBI agents, and Merchant said he hoped to obtain a green card and expected to be arrested before any killings. He allegedly sketched the plan on a hotel napkin and was arrested in 2024 as the broader Iran-U.S. tensions persisted.
Pakistani businessman Asif Merchant testified in Brooklyn that an Iran-aligned handler tried to hire hitmen to kill a U.S. politician, naming Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley as potential targets. He said his actions were driven by fear for Iranian relatives and that he intended to cooperate with authorities; the supposed hitmen were undercover FBI agents, and Merchant was arrested in 2024, a day before an unrelated Trump assassination attempt occurred.
Mexico thwarted an Iranian plot to assassinate Israeli Ambassador Einat Kranz Neiger, part of a broader Iranian effort to target Israeli and American interests worldwide, with plans linked to Iran's IRGC and involving plots in multiple countries; the Iranian embassy denied the allegations.
U.S. and Israeli officials revealed that Iran's IRGC planned to assassinate Israel's ambassador to Mexico, but the plot was foiled by Mexican security last summer, highlighting Iran's extensive overseas operations against Israeli and American targets.
A plot to assassinate a Brazilian Supreme Court judge and overthrow the government, linked to Bolsonaro supporters and involving detailed plans with military-grade weapons, was uncovered during Brazil's high-profile trial of Bolsonaro for attempting a coup, highlighting ongoing threats to Brazil's democracy.
A man from Yucca Valley, California, Thomas Eugene Streavel, has been charged with making multiple threatening messages on Facebook about assassinating President Trump, especially after the 2024 election. He pleaded not guilty, and the case is under investigation by the U.S. Secret Service, with a trial scheduled for July 28.
The President of the Philippines has publicly criticized the Vice President over an alleged assassination plot, escalating political tensions within the country's leadership.
Brazilian police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of attempting to prevent the newly elected government from taking office, marking the third time Bolsonaro faces potential criminal charges. These latest accusations, which include involvement in a coup and an assassination plot, significantly increase the chances of Bolsonaro facing imprisonment. He denies the charges, claiming political persecution.
Brazilian federal police have arrested five individuals, including four special forces military personnel and a police agent, for plotting to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes following Lula's 2022 election victory. The plot, allegedly orchestrated by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, aimed to prevent Lula's inauguration and involved plans for a coup d'état. The arrests were made after uncovering evidence from Bolsonaro's former aide, with the suspects facing charges of attempting to violently abolish democratic rule.
Brazilian police have arrested several soldiers in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The arrests highlight ongoing tensions within the country, particularly involving military elements and political factions opposed to Lula's leadership.
Two men from New York have been charged with plotting to assassinate an Iranian activist. The FBI uncovered the monthslong plan, which targeted the activist for their opposition to the Iranian government. The charges highlight ongoing threats faced by dissidents and the international reach of such plots.
Iran has responded to accusations from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that it was involved in a plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The allegations have heightened tensions between the two nations, with Iran denying any involvement in such activities. This development adds to the ongoing complex diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran.