An 18-year-old from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho has been arrested under suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks against multiple churches in the name of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, otherwise known as ISIS. Alexander Scott Mercurio has shocked his community and raised concerns about what factors led to the youth’s radicalization. The arrest case also underscores the need for proactive measures to address the root causes of conversion to extremism and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Arrest
In Northern Idaho, Alexander Scott Mercurio was plotting to use a massive array of weapons to commit heinous terrorist attacks. Alexander believed he was talking to other members of the Islamic State group. However, he was conversing with an unnamed FBI Informant.
Mercurio had planned on using a metal pipe, butane fuel, and a machete and was going to attempt to use his father’s guns. According to a sworn testament by the FBI task force officer, John Taylor II, Alexander planned to use a metal pipe to knock out his father and then steal his guns and car. His father’s collection of firearms included rifles and handguns.
Moreover, the young extremist doubled down and stated even if he couldn’t get the guns, he would still carry out the attacks with his blade, pipe, and fire. All this was divulged to the informant in the assailant’s audio recording. Mercurio sent the audio recording with an accompanying photo of himself. He was holding a knife in front of an ISIS flag with his index finger extended up. The extended index finger is a hand sign commonly seen among the terrorist group.
The sworn statement goes on to say that Mercurio had planned first to attack the church and then head into town. In town he had planned to attack about 21 more people before getting into a standoff and committing martyrdom through suicide by cop.
Alexander Scott Mercurio was arrested on Saturday, April 6th. Investigators believe that he would’ve acted on his plans of terrorism on the following Sunday. Furthermore, he was planning to execute his plans before the end of the peaceful Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The young terrorist has been federally charged with attempting to give material support to ISIS.
Road to Terrorism
The incident has sparked discussions about the factors that may have influenced him to be to involved in extremist activities. Researchers have identified several possible contributing variables, such as exposure to extremist views, social isolation, and online recruitment.
Cases in the likes of 18-year-old Alexander Scott Mercurio are rare but not unheard of. However, investigators and community members remain shocked at his choice to not only commit terrorism but do it as an act of martyrdom as well.
The case against the young ISIS supported has been a few years in the making. According to the FBI informant, Mercurio said he had been in contact with the IS group for a while. Alexander said around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he first met group members in online forums during the pandemic’s closures of closes.
Supporting these claims, investigators found evidence from a laptop in Mercurio’s possession assigned to him from his school. The computer had proof of the Ideologies of the IS group. Over conversing with the informant, Alexander expressed how his parents were very Christian and disapproved of his new religious conversion.
Moreover, he stated how he felt like a hypocrite towards his religion and the terroristic ideology of the IS group due to him not yet carrying out an act of terrorism.
Alexander Scott Mercurio, in one instance, stated, “I’ve stopped asking and praying for martyrdom because I don’t feel like I want to fight and die for the sake of Allah, I just want to die and have all my problems go away,”.
Motivation For Terrorism
Alexander Scott Mercurio didn’t outwardly express why he had fixated on the ideology and motives of the terrorist group. Yet, it seems through the transcripts of his conversations with the informant that mental health played a factor. A specific conversation Mercurio had with the FBI agent seems to express feelings of hopelessness, forlornness, and nihilism.
The potential terrorist stated, “I have motivation for nothing but fighting … like some time of insatiable bloodlust for the life juice of these idolators; a craving for mayhem and murder to terrorize those around me.”
The assailant seemed to want to cause terror and chaos. As opposed to Mercurio truly wanting to adopt the extremist beliefs of the Islamic State group. Alexander then went on to say, “I’ve stopped asking and praying for martyrdom because I don’t feel like I want to fight and die for the sake of Allah, I just want to die and have all my problems go away,.”
His messages to the informant seem more like the ramblings of a mentally ill and troubled man. One who wanted to cause harm and hurt others due to his desires and internal conflicts.
On March 21, Mercurio also sent a message expressing his humiliation and shame and his lack of will to continue living in that state.
What is to Come
Now Alexander Scoot Mercurio is in federal custody. By the quick and precise work on the part of the FBI, no one was harmed by the plot of the potential terrorist.
His charges are pent against him just days after Homeland Security and the FBI warned the nation of terrorism threats at large gatherings. The charges also came not long after ISIS-claimed terrorism in Russia. The attack left 145 people dead and hundreds injured.
Acts of terrorism against the United States are under heavy surveillance by the Justice Department. Attorney General Merrick Garland states how terrorism threats and plans, whether domestic or international, will not be handled lightly for the safety of the country.
Mercurio will be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. However, the terrorist has not yet had the opportunity to plea. He is currently in an Idaho state prison awaiting his first court appearance.
Written By: Janasia Presley
Sources:
CBS News: Idaho teen arrested for allegedly plotting to attack church in name of ISIS, By Robert Legare
ABC News: Idaho man arrested for planning attacks on churches in support of ISIS, By Alexander Mallin
Politico: Idaho 18-year-old accused of terrorism plot against churches, By Associated Press
AP News: Idaho man faces federal terrorism charge. Prosecutors say he planned a church attack to support IS, By Rebecca Boone and Mead Gruver
Featured Image Courtesy of thierry ehrmann’s Flickr – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Jeffrey Beall’s Flickr – Creative Commons License
