A Pakistani citizen residing in Canada is facing federal charges for a plan to attack a New York City Jewish center on or around Oct. 7 in support of the Islamic State group, prosecutors revealed. The suspect allegedly chose Oct. 7 as the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack, in which over 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage. He also considered Oct. 11, which is Yom Kippur, the holiest religious holiday in Judaism. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that the defendant planned to carry out a terrorist attack in New York City with the goal of killing as many Jewish people as possible.
The Oct. 7 terrorist attack mentioned in the case sparked Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, resulting in the death of over 40,000 people according to the Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza. The suspect, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, was apprehended while traveling from Toronto to New York City, just 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border. Garland commended the FBI and Canadian authorities for the arrest. Khan first drew attention when he distributed pro-Islamic State group propaganda, including videos. The federal complaint against him states that he communicated with undercover officers, expressing his intention to target Jews in New York City.
Khan has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation, as the office of the Federal Defenders of New York did not respond to requests for comment. According to the FBI, Khan planned to form an Islamic State group cell in North America to execute an attack on Jews in the United States. He asked undercover officers to help him obtain semiautomatic rifles like the AR-15 for mass shootings at Jewish locations such as Chabad locations, as well as to procure hunting knives to slit their throats.
Using encrypted messaging, Khan allegedly instructed the undercover officers on how to aid him in carrying out the attack. He obtained a credit card for purchasing items needed for the attack and planned to hire a smuggler to help him cross the U.S.-Canada border. However, it is unclear if a smuggler was with him when he was arrested in Ormstown, Canada. Garland assured that federal authorities would continue to seek justice for such alleged plots. The case highlights the ongoing threat of terrorism and the importance of vigilance in countering extremist ideologies and preventing potential attacks on innocent civilians.
