A Pakistani national has been apprehended for allegedly planning to assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump and other public officials.
According to ABC News, Asif Merchant's plot was thwarted by undercover FBI agents posing as hired assassins, leading to his arrest.
The detailed criminal complaint was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court, where it was revealed that Asif Merchant had connections to Iran.
Although not directly named in the complaint, sources confirmed that Trump was among the intended targets of the plot. Other targets included officials from both political parties, indicating the plot's broad scope.
Merchant, who is 46 years old, flew from Pakistan to the United States to execute his plan after spending an undisclosed amount of time in Iran. The individual he initially contacted for plotting the assassinations turned out to be a confidential FBI informant.
Once in the United States, Merchant explained his plan to the informant by early June and requested multiple hitmen, protesters for distraction purposes, and a woman for reconnaissance tasks.
By mid-June, Merchant met with undercover law enforcement agents who were posing as the hitmen he requested. He paid the undercover agents $5,000 as an advance to further the plot.
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the Justice Department remains vigilant against Iran's efforts to target American officials in retaliation for past events.
Merchant's arrest took place on July 12, a day before a Trump rally was scheduled in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was later shot in the ear. Thomas Crooks, an individual unrelated to the current plot, attempted to assassinate Trump from a rooftop but had no established connections to foreign operatives.
Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated that Merchant planned to murder U.S. government officials while working on behalf of others overseas. FBI acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis emphasized the agency's role in neutralizing the threat.
In light of Merchant's capture, last-minute security adjustments were made for Trump's rally, including the unexpected allocation of Secret Service snipers.
Pat Young, head of the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit, confirmed that the change in security plans initially caused some concern among local officials.
Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national with ties to Iran, was arrested for an alleged plot involving the assassination of Donald Trump and other public officials. The arrest was made possible through collaboration between undercover FBI agents and informants. The criminal complaint was unveiled in Brooklyn, shedding light on Merchant's actions and plans.
