Federal authorities say a 20-year-old man from Coeur d’Alene has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization after investigators uncovered his plans to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack in northern Idaho.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Alexander Scott Mercurio admitted that he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) and planned to commit an attack in Coeur d’Alene on behalf of the group.
Court documents reveal that Mercurio began promoting ISIS propaganda online in early 2023, creating an online repository to share extremist content. Prosecutors said he initially intended to travel overseas to join the terrorist organization but shifted his focus to a domestic attack when those plans failed.
Investigators determined Mercurio planned to target several Coeur d’Alene churches on April 7, 2024, using multiple weapons. In the days leading up to the planned attack, he reportedly posed in front of an ISIS flag while holding a knife and pledging allegiance to the group.
The FBI arrested Mercurio on April 6, 2024, one day before the attack was set to take place. Authorities said the swift intervention prevented what could have been a devastating act of violence.
Mercurio faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced. Federal officials said the case underscores the ongoing threat of homegrown extremism and the importance of early detection and coordinated law enforcement response.