图谋袭击爱达荷州教会男子被判18年：曾宣誓效忠ISIS，行凶前一天被捕
美国司法部11月10日宣布，爱达荷州 Coeur d'Alene 男子 Alexander Scott Mercurio（21岁）因图谋向被列为外国恐怖组织的 ISIS 提供物质支持与资源，被爱达荷州联邦地区法官 David C. Nye 判处18年监禁，并处终身监督释放。
据法庭记录，Mercurio 计划先用金属管打昏父亲、夺取其枪支，再以 ISIS 之名对爱达荷州多家教会发动大规模杀戮袭击，预备的武器包括带火焰的武器、爆炸物、刀具与砍刀。执法人员搜查其住所时，查获丁烷罐、打火机、一副手铐、刀、砍刀以及其父的多支枪支。袭击预定日前数天，Mercurio 站在 ISIS 旗帜前持刀宣誓效忠该组织。联邦调查局（FBI）于2024年4月6日将其逮捕，距预定袭击日仅一天。2023年初，他还建立了一个线上内容库，专门传播 ISIS 教义。
负责国家安全事务的首席副助理司法部长 M. Scott Proctor 表示，Mercurio 图谋袭击的正是美国民众自由行使宗教信仰的权利，此次判刑表明司法部将坚决追查并起诉企图以暴力恐吓美国民众的恐怖分子。爱达荷州联邦检察官 John C. Shirts 表示，无论在 Coeur d'Alene 还是任何社区，图谋对美国发动恐怖袭击者都将被绳之以法。FBI 反恐部助理主任 Jarod Brown 表示，Mercurio 已为其效忠 ISIS 与策划袭击付出代价。
本案由 FBI 联合反恐任务组侦办，Coeur d'Alene 警察局、Kootenai 县警长办公室与 Ada 县警长办公室提供协助；检方由爱达荷州联邦助理检察官 Heather S. Patricco、David G. Robins 与司法部国家安全局反恐处出庭律师 Matthew R. Hracho 组成。
Idaho Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Plotting Church Attacks in the Name of ISIS
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Nov. 10 that Alexander Scott Mercurio, 21, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was sentenced to 18 years in prison and lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge David C. Nye of the District of Idaho for attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to court records, Mercurio planned to incapacitate his father with a metal pipe, take his firearms, and carry out a mass-casualty attack on Idaho churches in the name of ISIS, using flame-covered weapons, explosives, knives and a machete. A search of his home turned up butane canisters, lighters, a pair of handcuffs, a knife, a machete and several of his father's firearms. Days before the planned attack, Mercurio stood before an ISIS flag holding a knife and pledged allegiance to the group. The FBI arrested him on April 6, 2024, one day before the planned attack. In early 2023, he had also created an online repository to spread ISIS doctrine.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security M. Scott Proctor said Mercurio had plotted to attack Americans' fundamental freedom to exercise their religion, and that the sentence shows the Justice Department will relentlessly pursue those who would terrorize Americans. U.S. Attorney John C. Shirts for the District of Idaho said anyone who intends to pursue acts of terrorism, in Coeur d'Alene or any other community, will be brought to justice. FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Director Jarod Brown said Mercurio is being held accountable for pledging allegiance to ISIS and planning an attack on U.S. soil.
The case was investigated by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force with assistance from the Coeur d'Alene Police Department, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and the Ada County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather S. Patricco and David G. Robins and Trial Attorney Matthew R. Hracho of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.
来源：美国司法部
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：位于 Boise 的 James A. McClure 联邦大楼与联邦法院，爱达荷州联邦地区法院所在地。Matthew Harrison Smith 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The James A. McClure Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Boise, home of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. By Matthew Harrison Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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