|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Pakistani National Arrested for Planning ISIS-Inspired Mass Shooting in NYC on Anniversary of Oct 7th Hamas Attack
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a coordinated effort, U.S. and Canadian authorities have successfully foiled a terrifying plot by a Canadian resident to carry out a mass shooting targeting Jewish communities in New York City. According to a report that appeared on Friday in The Washington Post, the individual at the center of the plot, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, was arrested Wednesday on U.S. charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State (ISIS). This incident, while horrifying in its scope and intent, stands as a testament to the vigilance of law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest on Friday, revealing Khan’s plan to execute a deadly attack on or around October 7, 2024, the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on southern Israel. As per the information provided in the Washington Post report, his stated goal, according to authorities, was to “slaughter as many Jewish people as possible” in the name of ISIS. This date was not chosen at random but rather as a symbolic marker intended to incite further violence amid tensions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The details of Khan’s plan, as laid out in a criminal complaint, paint a disturbing picture of a young man radicalized online and determined to carry out a mass shooting on a scale not seen in the United States since the attacks of September 11, 2001. The WaPo report revealed that authorities allege that Khan intended to target a Jewish community center in Brooklyn, believing that such an attack would maximize casualties and fuel sectarian violence. According to the FBI and the Justice Department, Khan had been posting ISIS propaganda on social media and encrypted messaging platforms since late 2023, which drew the attention of law enforcement.
His online activity caught the eye of undercover agents who began engaging with Khan in discussions about his plans. It was during these conversations that Khan allegedly made his intentions clear. He advised the undercover agents to acquire AR-style assault rifles and ammunition, and he repeatedly emphasized that October 7th and October 11th would be ideal dates for an attack, as was indicated in the WaPo report. October 7th, in particular, was significant as it would likely coincide with protests marking the anniversary of the Hamas attacks, while October 11th marks the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Khan’s fixation on these dates reflects not just a desire for maximum media attention but also an insidious attempt to exploit heightened emotions and political tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His statements to undercover agents, in which he expressed a desire to “slaughter them” in New York, shed light on the brutality of his ambitions and his commitment to carrying out violence in the name of ISIS.
At just 20 years old, Khan’s journey from Pakistani citizen to would-be terrorist is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online radicalization. Investigators have pointed to his frequent consumption and dissemination of ISIS propaganda as a key factor in his radicalization. The internet, and particularly encrypted messaging apps, have become fertile ground for extremist groups like ISIS to recruit and radicalize individuals who may never have had direct contact with terrorist networks.
Khan’s case is emblematic of a broader global trend, where disillusioned or impressionable young individuals are drawn into violent ideologies through the digital sphere. In Khan’s case, his indoctrination led him to believe that carrying out a mass shooting against Jewish people in New York would be a meaningful contribution to ISIS’ broader goals of global terror and destruction.
The success of this operation is due in large part to the close collaboration between U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies. The FBI worked in conjunction with Canadian authorities to monitor Khan’s movements and online activity. The WaPo also reported that it was during one of these joint operations that Khan was intercepted just 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border after he had made multiple attempts to cross into the United States using different vehicles. His arrest marks the culmination of months of careful surveillance and intelligence gathering.
“The defendant is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7th of this year with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Friday. “Thanks to the investigative work of the FBI, and the quick action of our Canadian law enforcement partners, the defendant was taken into custody. As I said to Canada’s Minister of Public Safety yesterday, we are deeply grateful to our Canadian partners for their critical law enforcement actions in this matter. Jewish communities — like all communities in this country — should not have to fear that they will be targeted by a hate-fueled terrorist attack. The Justice Department will continue to work closely with our domestic and international partners to aggressively counter the threat posed by ISIS and other terrorist organizations and their supporters.”
“The defendant was allegedly determined to kill Jewish people here in the United States, nearly one year after Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel. This investigation was led by the FBI, and I am proud of the terrific work by the FBI team and our partners to disrupt Khan’s plan.” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners to investigate and hold accountable those who seek to commit violence in the name of ISIS or other terrorist organizations. Fighting terrorism remains the FBI’s top priority.”
On or about Sept. 4, as Khan said he planned to do in connection with his attack, he attempted to reach the U.S-Canada border. To do so, Khan used three separate cars to travel across Canada towards the United States, before he was stopped in or around Ormstown, Canada, approximately 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border.
Khan is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles Field Offices are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky and David J. Robles for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Kevin C. Nunnally of the Justice Department’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
While Khan’s arrest is a victory for law enforcement, it also serves as a sobering reminder of the persistent threat of terrorism, particularly against vulnerable communities. The Jewish community in the United States, already facing rising levels of anti-Semitic hate crimes, remains a target for both domestic and international extremists. This latest plot underscores the need for continued vigilance and protection of religious and ethnic minorities, particularly in an era where hate and violence can be easily amplified through digital platforms.
l
