Pakistani man charged with plotting assassination of Donald Trump

A Pakistani man was charged on Tuesday with conspiracy to carry out a political assassination. The intended victim of Asif Merchant was Donald Trump, reported CNN.

According to AP, prosecutors from Brooklyn announced charges against 46-year-old Asif Merchant, accusing him of travelling to New York, where he allegedly hired an assassin to carry out the attacks. The agency reports that "court documents do not identify any of the potential targets."

CNN reported, citing the indictment and a statement from a U.S. official, that the foiled plot was aimed at Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the autumn presidential elections. According to the television station, FBI investigators believe that the target of the conspiracy was Trump, as well as current and former U.S. government officials.

According to Reuters, Merchant sought revenge for the killing of Iranian special forces commander General Qasem Soleimani by the U.S. in 2020. CNN reported that Merchant has connections with the Iranian government. AP noted that he spent many years in Iran, where he has family.

Merchant arrived in New York in April this year and contacted a person whom he believed would help him commission a political murder. This person contacted the FBI and began working with investigators.

It was revealed that Merchant was looking for people to steal documents or memory disks from one of the victims' homes, plan protests at political rallies, and carry out political assassinations.

In New York, Merchant met with the supposed hitmen whom he believed were to carry out the murders, but in reality, they were undercover law enforcement officers. He allegedly arranged to pay an advance of £4,000 for the murders that were to take place at the end of August or early September.

According to court documents cited by Reuters, a federal judge ordered his detention on 16 July. At that time, he was reportedly preparing to leave the United States. He is currently in federal custody.

On 13 July, Donald Trump was the target of a failed assassination attempt carried out by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who shot at him from a distance of 150 yards during an election rally in Pennsylvania. Two people died, including the assailant, and two others were seriously injured. According to CNN, investigators determined that the failed assassination in Pennsylvania is not connected to Merchant's actions.