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Afghan National Arrested in Texas for Threatening Violence in Social Media Video
Federal authorities have charged Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, an Afghan national living in Texas, with making online threats after he allegedly posted a video threatening to build a bomb, conduct a suicide attack, and kill Americans on TikTok and other social media platforms.
The charges were filed Saturday in federal court following Alokozay’s arrest on November 25. Court records do not indicate if he has obtained an attorney or entered a plea in the case.
According to court documents, the Texas Department of Public Safety alerted the FBI about a video circulating across multiple social media accounts showing a video call in which a man claiming to reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth area threatened violence. In the video, the man stated he would build a bomb in his vehicle and expressed that the Taliban were “dear to him,” according to FBI special agent Justin Killian’s statement.
Investigators used facial recognition technology to identify Alokozay as the man in the video. Following his arrest, Alokozay reportedly admitted to making the threatening statements and acknowledged deleting the TikTok application from his phone after people contacted him saying they had seen the video circulating online.
Alokozay was initially taken into custody on a state charge of making a terroristic threat before federal charges were filed. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin announced the arrest on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.
The arrest comes amid heightened security concerns following an unrelated shooting near the White House on Wednesday. Federal authorities identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War, as the suspect in that incident which injured two National Guard members. Lakanwal had applied for asylum during the Biden administration and was granted it this year under the Trump administration, according to organizations involved in Afghan resettlement efforts.
The day before McLaughlin’s announcement about Alokozay, the Trump administration had halted all asylum decisions and paused issuing visas for people traveling on Afghan passports. However, neither McLaughlin nor U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould has indicated any connection between these two cases.
The incidents have sparked renewed discussion about the vetting process for Afghan nationals entering the United States. Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a statement claiming that Alokozay had entered the country during the Biden administration and alleged that he had explicitly stated his intention to harm American citizens.
Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, approximately 76,000 Afghans who assisted American forces were brought to the United States under Operation Allies Welcome. The program was created to help those who had collaborated with U.S. forces and faced potential retaliation from the Taliban, which retook control of Afghanistan that year.
The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and national security concerns, particularly regarding individuals coming from regions with active terrorist organizations. Law enforcement officials continue to monitor potential threats while balancing humanitarian obligations to those who supported U.S. military operations abroad.
Federal investigators have not released details about how long Alokozay has been in the United States or the specific content of the video beyond the threats described in court documents. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine if there are connections to any broader security threats.
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9 Comments
I’m curious to learn more about how the authorities were able to identify the suspect using facial recognition technology. That seems like an effective investigative tool in this case.
This is a concerning case. Threatening violence, especially online, is unacceptable. I hope the authorities investigate this thoroughly and take appropriate action to protect public safety.
Agreed. Social media platforms need to be vigilant about curbing such threats and coordinating with law enforcement.
The Taliban connection is concerning. I hope the investigation can uncover whether there were any broader extremist ties or networks involved here.
It’s good that the authorities were alerted to this threat through social media monitoring. Proactive detection and response is crucial in these situations.
Absolutely. The rapid dissemination of threats on social platforms makes this kind of vigilance essential.
Deleting the TikTok app after making the threats seems like an attempt to cover his tracks. I’m glad the suspect was apprehended before any harm was done.
It’s troubling to see an Afghan national allegedly making such threats in the US. I wonder what the motivations and background behind this incident are.
Yes, the details will be important to understand. Regardless, any threats of violence should be taken extremely seriously.