America I arrested Pakistani Citizen Asif Merchant has pleaded not guilty to alleged ties to Iran and to plotting to kill an American politician to avenge the death of a top Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander.
According to Reuters, 46-year-old Asif Merchant pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted terrorism across international borders and murder-for-hire during his appearance before US Magistrate Judge Robert Levy in Brooklyn on Monday. what is
The judge ordered that Merchant be held in custody pending trial.
According to federal prosecutors, “Merchant spent some time in Iran and then traveled to the United States to recruit people for this conspiracy.”
“Merchant told an undercover agent that he also planned to steal documents from a target and organize protests in the United States,” prosecutors said.
According to the Reuters news agency, a person familiar with the situation said on condition of anonymity that “the suspect named former President Donald Trump as a possible target but did not formally plan to kill the former president.”
Court documents do not mention an alleged target or an attack. As Trump approved the drone strike on Soleimani in 2020.
There were no indications that Merchant was connected to Sunday’s alleged assassination plot on Trump’s Florida golf course or the July shooting at the Republican presidential candidate’s rally in Pennsylvania.
Earlier, according to the statement issued by the US Department of Justice on September 11, Asif Raza Merchant, a Pakistani citizen with alleged ties to Iran, was indicted in the US for conspiracy to kill an American official.
According to the statement issued on the website of the US Department of Justice on September 11: ‘Last day, Asif Merchant was charged with a conspiracy to kill a politician or US government official on US soil, an act of terrorism beyond the country’s borders. Charged with giving and attempting to act as a hired killer.’
It added that ‘law enforcement agencies foiled the plot before any attack could take place.’
On the arrest of a Pakistani citizen in America, the Pakistani Foreign Office said in early August that it is in contact with the American authorities in this regard.
Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement: ‘We have seen the media reports. We are in touch with the US authorities and await further details.’
He added: ‘We have noted the statements of the US officials. The matter is still under investigation. We also need to know for sure about the person’s background and past before giving our official response.’
According to the press release issued by the US Department of Justice on August 6, 46-year-old Asif Merchant alias Asif Raza Merchant in Brooklyn was hired as an assassin for an alleged plan to kill a politician or an American government official on American soil. has been accused of
According to the statement, US law enforcement agencies foiled the plan before any attack and Asif Merchant is now in federal custody.
Details of allegations against Asif Merchant
According to a description released on the US Department of Justice website: ‘In April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Asif Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed to be the Can help them in the project.
This person reported Asif Merchant’s behavior to the law enforcement agencies and became a Confidential Source (CS).
In early June, Asif Merchant met CS in New York and explained the assassination plot. Asif Merchant told CS that the work he had for CS was not a one-time job and would continue. Merchant then made a ‘finger gun’ gesture with his hand, indicating that it was an act of killing.
Asif Merchant added that the intended victims would be “targeted here” in the US. He directed the CS to arrange meetings with the persons whose services Asif Merchant could engage to carry out these operations.
Asif Merchant explained that his plan involved several criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from the target’s home, (2) planning protests and (3) impersonating a politician or government official. Officer’s murder.
‘In this meeting, Asif Merchant started planning possible assassination scenarios and questioned the CS on how he would kill a target under different circumstances. Specifically, Asif Merchant asked CS to explain how a target would die in various scenarios. He told the CS that the man would be ‘surrounded by security.’
‘Asif Merchant said the killing would take place after he left the US and that he would communicate with the CS from abroad using code words. The CS asked if the merchant had spoken to an unknown ‘party’ in his country, with whom he was dealing.
Asif Merchant replied that he had spoken and the Malik party asked him to ‘finalize’ the plan and leave America.
In mid-June, Asif Merchant met with the alleged killers, who were actually US law enforcement undercover (UC) officers in New York. He told the USCIS that he wanted three jobs from him: stealing documents, organizing protests at political rallies and killing a ‘political figure’ for him.
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Asif Merchant said that after they leave the US, the hitmen will receive instructions on who to kill in the last week of August or the first week of September.
On June 21, Asif Merchant met UCS in New York and paid them five thousand dollars in advance.
“After Asif paid five thousand dollars to the UCs, one of the UCs said ‘we are bound now’ to which the merchant replied ‘yes’. UC then said, ‘Now we know we have to move on. We will, to which the merchant replied ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Merchant then made arrangements for the vessel and intended to depart the United States on Friday 12 July 2024. On July 12, law enforcement agents arrested Merchant before he left the country.
Asif Merchant said that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan. The FBI is investigating the matter.’
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah K. Wink, Gilbert Raine and Douglas Pravda for the Eastern District of New York and trial attorneys David Smith and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, according to the press release.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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#Planning #kill #Pakistani #arrested #denies #charges
2024-09-17 06:22:30
Table of Contents
- 1 The indictment, Asif Merchant is accused of receiving funding and directives from Iranian agents to carry out the plot. Investigators claim that Merchant had been communicating with individuals linked to Iran and was in possession of materials related to the assassination plan.
- 2 – What are the key charges against Asif Merchant in the Brooklyn court case?
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Pakistani Citizen Asif Merchant Arrested in America for Alleged Ties to Iran and Plot to Kill an American Politician
A 46-year-old Pakistani citizen, Asif Merchant, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted terrorism across international borders and murder-for-hire in a Brooklyn court. According to Reuters, Merchant was arrested for allegedly plotting to kill an American politician to avenge the death of a top Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander.
The Allegations Against Asif Merchant
According to
– What are the key charges against Asif Merchant in the Brooklyn court case?
Pakistan-born Asif Merchant Pleads Not Guilty to Alleged Ties with Iran and Plot to Kill American Politician
In a shocking turn of events, Asif Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani citizen, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted terrorism across international borders and murder-for-hire in a Brooklyn court on Monday. Merchant is accused of plotting to kill an American politician to avenge the death of a top Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander.
Allegations Against Asif Merchant
According to federal prosecutors, Merchant spent time in Iran before traveling to the United States to recruit people for the alleged conspiracy. He reportedly told an undercover agent that he planned to steal documents from a target and organize protests in the United States. Although court documents do not mention a specific target or attack, a person familiar with the situation revealed that former President Donald Trump was a possible target, but no formal plan was made to kill the former president.
Indictment and Arrest
The US Department of Justice issued a statement on September 11, indicting Asif Raza Merchant for conspiracy to kill a politician or US government official on US soil, as well as giving and attempting to act as a hired killer. Law enforcement agencies foiled the plot before any attack could take place. Merchant was arrested and is currently being held in custody pending trial.
Pakistan’s Response
The Pakistani Foreign Office has stated that it is in contact with American authorities regarding the arrest of Asif Merchant. The Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said that they are awaiting further details and need to know more about Merchant’s background and past before giving an official response.
Plot Foiled
According to the US Department of Justice, law enforcement agencies thwarted the alleged plan before any attack occurred. Asif Merchant is now in federal custody, facing serious charges that could carry severe penalties.
Background of Asif Merchant
Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, is a 46-year-old Pakistani citizen who was allegedly hired as an assassin for the plot to kill a politician or American government official on American soil. Little is known about his background, but it is clear that he has ties to Iran and has spent time in the country.
Implications of the Plot
The alleged plot to kill an American politician has significant implications for international relations and national security. The fact that Merchant was able to travel to the United States and recruit people for the conspiracy raises concerns about the effectiveness of security measures in place.
Investigation Ongoing
The investigation into Asif Merchant’s alleged ties with Iran and the plot to kill an American politician is ongoing. As more information becomes available, the full extent of the conspiracy will become clearer.
Keywords: Asif Merchant, Pakistan, Iran, Terrorism, Murder-for-hire, Donald Trump, US Department of Justice, Brooklyn Court, International Relations, National Security.
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