On the eve of the anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, the United States Department of Justice has brought charges against a Pakistani national for allegedly plotting an attack on Jewish targets in New York.
According to various media reports, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old residing in Canada, was arrested for planning an attack in support of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He allegedly communicated with an undercover agent, expressing a desire to target New York due to its “largest Jewish population in America.”
The Justice Department’s statement highlights that Khan, who was based in Canada, was specifically planning to target a Jewish centre in the U.S. The gravity of his intentions was underscored by his assertion during one communication that, “if we succeed with our plan, this would be the largest attack on US soil since 9/11.” He has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and his arrest in Canada on Wednesday (September 4) led to the unsealing of the charges on Friday (September 6).
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the significance of thwarting such plots: “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.”
Wray reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to counter-terrorism, stating, “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 organisations. Fighting terrorism remains the FBI’s top priority.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland added further context to the gravity of the charges, stating: “The defendant is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7 of this year with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible. 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 plot appears to have been months in the making. Reports from CNN indicate that in November 2023, Khan began discussing his support for ISIS on an encrypted messaging application with two individuals who were, unbeknownst to him, undercover law enforcement officers. Court documents reveal that Khan aspired to create “a real offline cell” of ISIS operatives that would target Jewish institutions in an unnamed city. He instructed the undercover officers to acquire firearms to facilitate these planned attacks. Khan allegedly indicated his preferred dates for the attacks—October 7, due to anticipated protests, and October 11, coinciding with Yom Kippur, a significant Jewish holiday.
By August of this year, Khan had reportedly decided on a Jewish centre in Brooklyn as the primary target. He told the undercover agents that it was easy to “target Jews” in New York because of the city’s large Jewish population, adding that “even if we don’t attack an Event, we could rack up easily a lot of Jews.” Once he finalised the location, Khan allegedly paid a human smuggler to assist him in crossing the border into the United States. On September 4, Khan made an attempt to cross from Canada into the U.S., using three separate cars to evade detection. However, he was stopped roughly 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border.
Khan faces one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The backdrop of this plot ties into the broader context of recent tensions in the region. On October 7 of the previous year, the Israel Defense Forces declared a state of readiness for war following a massive rocket barrage from the Gaza Strip and the infiltration of Hamas terrorists into Israel. The conflict has continued unabated since that time, with repercussions felt globally, including within Jewish communities around the world.
