Terrorism
Terrorism is all the more prevalent all across the globe. As tensions continue to rise between countries, the chance of terrorism occurring is extremely high. There have also been many threats being made to those in America, especially during the religious holidays, such as Ramadan or Easter. As Ramadan is coming to a close, Alexander Mercurio decided to take to social media and express how he wanted to commit violent acts in churches. Places of worship are becoming something many people are scared to attend, as they never know if they will walk out of the building alive.
What Exactly Did Alexander Mercurio Do?
The FBI had targeted their attention to Alexander Mercurio after he expressed that he supported terrorist organizations such as ISIS. He had also expressed interest in a terrorist attack “on churches in Coeur d’Alene,” according to USA Today. He was planning to conduct these attacks towards the end of Ramadan, when churches would be filled to celebrate this important holiday.
Alexander Mercurio also had a particular church in mind, and also had all the weapons and butane canisters he needed to try and fulfill the attack. However, the FBI was able to intercept this information, and was able to intervene before anything of the nature occurred.
Alexander Mercurio had also planned to incapacitate his father. The reason for this was because he had access to weaponry that he could use in the attack he was planning. Nothing was done to his father as police had made the arrest before the date of the planned attack. He wanted to have the most amount of casualties possible, which is why he had access to so much weaponry. Thankfully, no lives were taken as a result of the arrest.
The Future of This Incident
As a result of his arrest, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison if he is found guilty. Certainly, terrorism is something that the U.S officials need to watch out for considering the tensions rising across the globe. There also needs to be something done to ensure tighter security in places of worship, or in places where there are mass gatherings, to ensure the safety of everybody present.
Written by David Loran Jr
Sources:
USA Today: Alexander Mercurio intentionally planned to attack churches before the end of Ramadan, feds say
FOX News: FBI arrests Idaho 18-year-old for ‘violent plot’ to attack churches on behalf of ISIS, Justice Department says
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Anna’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Steven Isaacson’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
