Man arrested entering U.S. charged with plot to kill NY Jews on anniversary of Hamas attack

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, a Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, was arrested and accused of attempting to enter the United States to carry out a mass shooting in support of ISIS at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York.

He was stopped by Canadian law enforcement approximately 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border on Sept. 4, according to a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. He is charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

“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,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

According to the complaint, Khan began posting about his support for ISIS on social media and communicating with others on an encrypted messaging app around November 2023. That communication included distributing ISIS propaganda videos and literature. Soon after Khan began communicating with two undercover law enforcement officers, telling them that “Oct 7th and oct 11th are the best days for targeting the jews” because “oct 7 they will surely have some protests and oct 11 is yom.kippur.” According to the complaint, Khan initially planned to target a different, unnamed city, before turning his attention to New York.

Khan’s arrest came on the same day that the U.S. Department of Justice announced it has charged six senior Hamas leaders for the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

Khan’s case has not yet been entered into the federal court system database, and an attorney for him could not be identified. The United States has requested extradition, according to a news release.

Khan detailed plans for the attack to the undercover officers, including housing to rent and having a smuggler get him into the United States, according to the complaint. Khan also said he planned to work with an U.S.-based ISIS supporter, who is not named in the complaint, but that person backed out.

Khan encouraged the undercover officers to acquire AR-style rifles, ammunition, and other equipment including “some good hunting [knives] so we can slit their throats,” according to the complaint. Khan repeatedly reiterated his desire to carry out the attack in support of ISIS, noting that “if we succeed with our plan this would be the largest Attack on US soil since 9/11,” according to the complaint.

Source » usatoday