Asif Merchant
Asif Raza Merchant, Islamic Pakistani National, arrested for involvement in the Islamic Republic of Iran's plot to assassinate Donald Trump.[1][2][3]
On Aug 6, 2024[4]:
a complaint was unsealed charging Asif Merchant, also known as “Asif Raza Merchant,” 46, with murder-for-hire as part of a scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on U.S. soil. Law enforcement foiled the charged plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant is in federal custody in New York.
Contents
Timeline
Timeline of events leading to Merchant's arrest:[5]
- April 2024: Merchant, after spending time in Iran, arrived in the US from Pakistan and sought assistance from an individual who later became a confidential source for law enforcement.
- Early June 2024: Merchant outlined his assassination plot during a meeting with the confidential source, indicating that the targets were in the United States.
- Mid-June 2024: Merchant met with individuals he believed were hitmen, who were actually undercover FBI agents. He discussed various criminal activities, including theft and assassination, and arranged to pay $5,000 in cash as an advance for the services.
- June 21, 2024: Merchant delivered the advance payment.
- July 12, 2024: Merchant planned to leave the US one day before the intended assassination attempt on Trump. However, law enforcement intervened and arrested him.
Personal
According to the court documents, Merchant is a citizen of Pakistan. Born in Karachi, in approximately 1978 and stated to law enforcement that he currently resides in Pakistan. He also stated that he has a family in Pakistan, a wife and children, and another in Iran. He has frequently traveled to Iran, Syria and Iraq.[6]
Related
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In Nov 2024, 3 Islamists Iran linked - charged with plot to asassinate Trump before the elections [Farhad Shakeri], on Oct 7 (the anniversary to Hamas "palestine" led atrocities attack).[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Eric Tucker, Pakistani man with ties to Iran is charged in plot to carry out political assassinations on US soil 'Associated Press, August 7, 2024.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pakistani man alleged to have ties to Iran has been charged in a plot to carry out political assassinations on U.S. soil, including potentially of former President Donald Trump.
The case disclosed by the Justice Department on Tuesday comes two years after officials disrupted a separate scheme that they said was aimed at former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton.
Asif Merchant traveled to New York in June for the purpose of meeting with men he thought he was recruiting to carry out the killings, even paying a $5,000 advance to two would-be assassins who were actually undercover law enforcement officers, federal officials said. He was arrested in July as he prepared to leave the United States, after having told the men that he would provide further instructions, including the names of the intended targets, in August or September after he returned to Pakistan. - ↑ Robert Legare, Nicole Sganga, Andres Triay, U. S. charges Pakistani with alleged Iran ties in murder-for-hire plot against Trump, U.S. officials CBS News, August 7, 2024
- ↑ The Justice Department said a Pakistani man, Asif Raza Merchant, was arrested and accused of plotting to kill American leaders. A senior law enforcement official tells NBC News that former President Donald Trump was a potential target. NBC News' Ken Dilanian reports. Aug 6, 2024. YouTube.
- ↑ Pakistani National with Ties to Iran Charged in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate a Politician or U.S. Government Officials DOJ, August 6, 2024
- ↑ Who is Asif Merchant: Pak national charged with US assassination plots Business Standard (In). Aug 7, 2024
- ↑ United States Department of Justice (.gov) .Complaint. PDF
- ↑ Justice Department Announces Murder-For-Hire and Related Charges Against IRGC Asset and Two Local Operatives, DOJ, Nov 8, 2024. Greg Norman, Iranian asset charged in plot to assassinate Trump, DOJ says. Fox News November 7, 2024.
