Afghan National Arrested for Alleged Bomb Threat Targeting Fort Worth Area
An Afghan national has been apprehended in Texas after he posted a TikTok video suggesting he was constructing a bomb aimed at the Fort Worth area. Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, who entered the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome, has been charged with making a terroristic threat, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Why It Matters
This incident raises significant concerns regarding national security and the vetting process for individuals resettled in the U.S. from high-risk regions. It also underscores the ongoing debates about the implications of past military engagement in Afghanistan and the responsibilities that come with resettling its nationals in the United States.
Key Developments
- Mohammad Dawood Alokozay was arrested by Texas law enforcement on a charge of making a terroristic threat.
- He arrived in the U.S. in September 2022 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome.
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on Alokozay following his arrest.
- The arrest took place one day before a separate shooting incident involving an Afghan national in Washington, D.C.
Full Report
On Tuesday, the Texas Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, took Alokozay into custody. The arrest was part of a coordinated law enforcement effort, and he is currently being held at the Tarrant County Corrections Center in Fort Worth. Alokozay’s TikTok posts indicated a potential threat to public safety, prompting immediate action from federal and state authorities.
Court records show that Alokozay was charged at the state level due to his alleged intentions. His arrival in the U.S. was facilitated by Operation Allies Welcome, a program aimed at resettling Afghan nationals after the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. This initiative was designed to provide refuge for those who assisted U.S. forces during the conflict.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the current administration’s handling of national security, stating, “The magnitude of the national security crisis Joe Biden unleashed on our country… cannot be overstated.” Her remarks followed the arrest and were made public over social media.
Context & Previous Events
Alokozay is not the only Afghan national to raise alarms following the U.S. military exit from Afghanistan. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who also arrived under Operation Allies Welcome, was recently identified as the suspect in a shooting that injured two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. The incidents have heightened concerns about security and the vetting process for Afghan refugees.
