The key facts
- A 17-year-old teenager from McKinney, Texas, has been arrested on suspicion of plotting an assassination of Congressman Keith Self on behalf of ISIS
- According to WFAA, the arrest took place on October 5 after the purchase of a firearm; the teenager was recently radicalized
- Self is a co-founder of the 'Sharia-Free America Caucus'; critics call his activities Islamophobic
Arrest of the Suspect
In Texas, a 17-year-old teenager from the city of McKinney has been detained on suspicion of planning the murder of Republican Congressman Keith Self and carrying out an attack on behalf of ISIS. According to the Dallas outlet WFAA, citing sources in law enforcement agencies, the arrest took place on October 5 after the teenager purchased a firearm. It is reported that he was recently radicalized. The suspect's name has not been disclosed. It is unknown how he attracted the attention of law enforcement and how long he was under surveillance. The FBI declined to comment.
The Congressman's Reaction
Keith Self, a supporter of President Donald Trump, thanked the FBI and law enforcement agencies. On Wednesday, in a post on X, he wrote: 'Preserving our constitutional republic from radical Islam means accepting the costs that come with it — insults, threats, and worse. It only strengthens my resolve. I will not back down.' Self, along with his fellow Texan Chip Roy, created the 'Sharia-Free America Caucus' this year. At the time, he stated: 'If we do not resist, sharia will dominate our culture, and America will cease to be America.' Critics argue that the heightened attention of Self and his supporters to the Muslim community is Islamophobic and part of a tactic to mobilize the Republican base ahead of major elections.
The Context of Political Violence
The outlet The National notes the rise of political violence in the US since Trump's return to power last year. Trump himself was the target of at least two previous assassination attempts. Last year, Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed.
