US accuses Pakistani of attempting attack, with Trump as possible target - Bloomberg
Former US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
The US has charged a Pakistani national, who is believed to be connected to Iran, with attempting to assassinate American politicians. Former President Donald Trump was among those targeted, according to Bloomberg.
Federal prosecutors have charged 46-year-old Asif Merchant with orchestrating a conspiracy to assassinate an unnamed US politician or government official within the US. According to the indictment, Merchant, who had spent time in Iran, traveled to the US from Pakistan in April and contacted an individual he believed could assist with the plot.
Sources told Bloomberg that former President Donald Trump was among the individuals Merchant considered as a potential target. However, another source indicated that there is no evidence linking Merchant's plan to the recent attack in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it is in contact with US officials regarding the case and is awaiting further details. Iran’s mission to the UN mentioned that it had not received any communications on this matter from the US government.
Merchant has been held without bail, with the court citing him as a serious threat to the US and a potential flight risk.
Possible Iranian involvement in the attempt on Trump
Following the assassination attempt on Trump, it was revealed that the US had been informed weeks prior about Iran's plans to target the former president.
The Biden administration indicated that the current threat from Iran is part of a broader pattern of threats against former officials from the Trump administration, which emerged after the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in January 2020. Soleimani was killed in a drone strike ordered by Trump, who was then serving as President of the US.
