FBI: Terror suspect said he wanted to kill Americans in Fort Worth suicide bombing

FORT WORTH, Texas - Federal authorities have released new details about an Afghan national arrested last week after a TikTok video surfaced in which he allegedly threatened to carry out a suicide bombing in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. 

Fort Worth Bomb Threat Arrest

What's new:

Newly filed court documents show investigators identified the suspect the day after the video was posted on TikTok and moved quickly to arrest him.

The video, shared on TikTok, X and Facebook, shows 30-year-old Mohammad Dawood Alokozay sitting in a dark vehicle speaking in Dari with two men. According to a federal complaint, Alokozay said he loved the Taliban, had come to the United States "to kill Americans," and had purchased supplies to build a bomb inside his car for a suicide attack in Fort Worth.

In the recording, he also stated he was not afraid of dying or being deported.

How investigators found him

Court documents reveal the FBI matched the man in the video with Alokozay’s driver’s license photo and contacted his employer in Haslet to determine his work schedule. Agents then arrested him the next morning after he stopped at a gas station on his way to work.

During an interview, Alokozay admitted participating in the TikTok video call but claimed he deleted the app after learning that the recording had been posted publicly.

Authorities say it remains unclear whether Alokozay intended to carry out the attack or was venting online, but they emphasized that the threat was treated seriously.

"Law enforcement is being proactive in looking for potential threats and neutralizing them before they turn into something devastating," said Eric O’Neill, a former FBI counterintelligence operative. He said recent attacks against ICE facilities and National Guard members have put agencies nationwide on high alert.

Federal response

What they're saying:

In a press release, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Alokozay entered the United States under the Biden administration and claimed the video underscored failures in federal vetting.

"This Afghan national came into America during the Biden administration and as alleged, explicitly stated that he came here in order to kill American citizens," Bondi said. "The public safety threat created by the Biden administration’s vetting breakdown cannot be overstated."

U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas praised the rapid work of agents.
"We have zero tolerance for violence and threats of violence to kill American citizens and others," he said. "Those individuals who jeopardize the public safety and security of North Texas residents will be swiftly brought to justice."

FBI Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said the public’s reporting of the video helped agents identify and apprehend Alokozay before anyone was harmed.
"If you see something, say something," Rothrock said.

Defense attorney urges caution

The other side:

Court-appointed attorney Leigh Davis, who met with Alokozay Monday, cautioned the public not to make assumptions.

"Don’t jump to any conclusions," Davis said. "Let’s see what the facts say, and remember, just because it’s on the internet doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true."

Background and immigration context

Dig deeper:

Alokozay arrived in the United States under Operation Allies Welcome, the federal program created to assist Afghan evacuees. He became a lawful permanent resident in 2022. ICE has since placed a detainer on him.

His arrest came one day before a separate Afghan national, also admitted under Operation Allies Welcome, allegedly ambushed two U.S. National Guard members in Washington, D.C., killing one and critically injuring the other. The attack prompted President Donald Trump to call for a review of all individuals admitted under Biden-era immigration programs.

"They also have to be looking at whether there are others where the vetting missed something," O’Neill said.

Charges and possible penalties

In addition to the ICE detainer, Alokozay is being held on federal charges of making interstate threats. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.

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