News Brief
Pakistani Man Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, Who Wanted To Carry Out 'Largest' US Attack 'Since 9/11', Arrested Over Plot To Kill Jews In New York
New York City
A Pakistani national, who was planning to carry out the "largest" terror attack on US soil since 11 September 2001 by killing Jews, has been arrested in Canada.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested in connection with a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, the US Justice Department said on Friday (6 September).
Khan, 20, a Pakistani national residing in Canada, was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a US designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
“The defendant (Khan) 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.
Khan was arrested by Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a material support of terrorism warrant issued out of the Southern District of New York.
"As alleged, Khan attempted to travel to the United States to carry out a terrorist attack and murder as many Jewish people as possible, all in support of ISIS," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.
"Khan’s alleged crimes are a vivid reminder that we must remain vigilant in the fight against antisemitism and terror," Williams added.
Khan had used encrypted messaging apps to plan the attack in Brooklyn since last November, including distributing pro-ISIS propaganda and videos and literature, the Department of Justice said in a press release.
He soon unknowingly began communicating with two undercover officers, telling them that he and an associate in the U.S. wanted to create "a real offline cell" of ISIS supporters to carry out a "coordinated assault" using AR-style assault rifles, and that they planned to "target Israeli Jewish chabads . . . scattered all around" an unnamed city other than New York.
Khan repeatedly instructed the undercover officers to obtain AR-style assault rifles, ammunition, and other materials to carry out the attacks, and identified the specific locations in the unnamed city where the attacks would take place.
Khan also provided details about how he would cross the border from Canada into the United States to conduct the attacks.
Around 20 August, Khan changed his target location from the unnamed city to New York, saying he wanted to attack a Jewish Centre in Brooklyn, New York.
"New york is perfect to target jews" since it has the "largest Jewish population In america" and therefore, "even if we dont attack a[n] Event[,] we could rack up easily a lot of jews," Khan allegedly said, adding, "we are going to nyc (New York City) to slaughter them."
Thereafter, Khan continued to urge the UCs to acquire AR-style rifles, ammunition, and other equipment for his attack, including “some good hunting [knives] so we can slit their throats", the Justice Department said.
During one communication, Khan noted that “if we succeed with our plan this would be the largest Attack on US soil since 9/11.”
On September 4, as Khan said he planned to do in connection with his attack, he attempted to reach the US-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 US-Canada border," the Justice Department said.
US Attorney General Merrick B Garland pointed out that Khan had planned his attack around 7 October, the anniversary of Hamas’ assault on Israel, intending to kill as many Jewish individuals as possible under the banner of ISIS.
"Jewish communities – like all communities in this country – should not have to fear that they will be targeted by a hate-fueled terrorist attack," Garland said.
"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," he added.
