An 18-year-old teenager from northern Idaho, Alexander Scott Mercurio, has been charged by federal prosecutors with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group. Mercurio, who had converted to the Muslim faith against his Christian parents' wishes, was allegedly planning to attack churches in Coeur d'Alene using a metal pipe, butane fuel, a machete, and potentially his father's guns.
Authorities revealed that Mercurio was in contact with FBI informants posing as Islamic State group supporters. He intended to incapacitate his father, steal his guns, and carry out the attack. If unable to access the firearms, he planned to proceed with the attack using the pipe, fire, and knives.
Mercurio expressed his intentions to attack multiple churches in town and ultimately be killed in an act of martyrdom. Over a two-year period, he engaged with confidential informants, even attempting to build an explosive vest for the attacks.
Investigators found files on Mercurio's school-issued laptop detailing IS's extremist ideology. Despite his parents' disapproval of his beliefs, Mercurio felt conflicted about not yet carrying out an attack, expressing a desire to die and escape his problems.
Law enforcement intervened after Mercurio pledged allegiance to the IS in an audio file. Attorney General Merrick Garland commended the FBI's efforts in preventing a potential act of terrorism and emphasized the Justice Department's commitment to holding such individuals accountable.
If convicted, Mercurio could face up to 20 years in prison. He is currently in custody in a northern Idaho jail awaiting his first court appearance scheduled for late Wednesday morning.
The Islamic State group, which once controlled significant territory in Syria and Iraq, continues to pose a threat through its regional affiliates in various parts of the world. The recent deadly attack at a Moscow concert hall claimed by IS serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by the group.
