An 18-year-old Idaho teen who pledged support for ISIS is arrested moments before “planning to attack churches with guns, knives and fire.”

A teenager who pledged his support for ISIS was arrested moments before he planned to attack several churches in Idaho.

Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, was arrested over the weekend by the Department of Justice after allegedly plotting attacks on local churches in Coeur d’Alene on behalf of ISIS.

A criminal complaint states that Mercurio had planned to carry out the attacks with guns, knives and fire on Sunday. He now faces charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS.

During a search of his parents’ home, police found “objects consistent with his planned attack, including a” metal pipe, handcuffs, a folding saw, head coverings, two canisters of butane fuel and a machete.

Police also found several rifles and handguns in his father’s room.

Mercurio “stated that he intended to incapacitate his father with a pipe, handcuff him, and use the firearms kept in the closet to attack the church,” court documents say.

According to the affidavit, the 18-year-old used his school-issued laptop to research and plan a terrorist attack.

Mercurio allegedly told the informant that he once “drank the Kool-aid of white supremacy,” before finding “more purpose” in ISIS.

Mercurio said there were “too many churches” to choose from when looking for a location for the attack.

“I’m going to fix that very soon,” he allegedly said.

The teen also expressed a desire to carry out an attack “in part to quench some type of bloodlust,” according to the affidavit.

He planned to donate his money to ISIS after the “martyrdom” mission, according to the affidavit.

FBI Director Christopher Wray called the attack plan “truly horrific.”

“The defendant allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and attempted to attack people attending churches in Idaho, a truly horrific plot that was detected and thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,” Wray said in a statement released on Monday.

“This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s strong commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to stop those who wish to commit acts of violence on behalf of (or inspired by) foreign terrorist groups.”

Mercurio currently remains in custody awaiting his first court appearance.

If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland praised the FBI’s investigative efforts and emphasized the Department of Justice’s commitment to pursuing and holding accountable individuals involved in acts of terrorism against the United States.

“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant swore an oath of allegiance to ISIS and planned to launch an attack on its behalf against churches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho,” Garland said in a statement.

‘Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was arrested before he could act, and is now accused of attempting to support ISIS’s mission of terror and violence. The Department of Justice will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States.’

Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI emphasized the importance of surveillance to detect and report cases of self-radicalization.

“This case should open our eyes to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities,” Sinha said. “Protecting the American people from terrorism remains the FBI’s number one priority, and we continue to encourage the public to report anything suspicious to the FBI or local authorities.”

‘Across the Department of Justice, and in my office, we have no greater calling than to protect our nation and our communities from terrorism. Together with our law enforcement partners, my office will always remain focused on this part of our mission,’ said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho.

‘I want to thank the FBI for their tireless work on this investigation and their painstaking efforts to prevent violence. The support of local authorities was also essential in successfully foiling the alleged plot.