Pakistani Arrested For Plotting Terrorist Attack In NY

Photo: Reuters

NEW YORK, NY (ANI) – Following the arrest of Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani national residing in Canada, for attempting to support and provide resources to ISIS, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reaffirmed Canada’s zero tolerance for terrorism and commitment to protecting communities from such threats. Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested on September 4 in Ormstown, Quebec, in connection with a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. He faces charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland revealed that Khan, 20, was planning a terrorist attack in New York City on or around October 7, intending to target Jewish people “in the name of ISIS.” Khan began his support for ISIS in November 2023, sharing propaganda on social media and communicating on an encrypted app. His plan involved a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, coinciding with significant dates such as October 7, the anniversary of a Hamas attack on Israel, and October 11, Yom Kippur, a major Jewish holiday.

Khan discussed his plans with undercover law enforcement officers, instructing them to acquire AR-style assault rifles, ammunition, and other materials for the attack. He also detailed how he would cross the border from Canada into the U.S. to execute his plan, emphasizing that these dates were ideal for “targeting the Jews.”

The RCMP and FBI’s joint investigation led to Khan’s arrest. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme condemned the anti-Semitic plot as “deplorable” and underscored the RCMP’s resolve to address violent extremism. FBI Director Christopher Wray praised the efforts of the FBI and its partners in disrupting Khan’s plan, which he described as potentially the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

Khan is scheduled to appear in the Superior Court of Justice in Montreal on September 13. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.