Canadian Authorities Thwart ISIS-Inspired Plot Against Brooklyn Jewish Center
A Pakistani man in Canada was arrested for planning an ISIS-inspired attack on a Jewish center in Brooklyn. The plot, set for the anniversary of the Hamas attack, was foiled by international cooperation.
In a significant counterterrorism operation, Canadian authorities apprehended Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani national, on September 4, 2023. The arrest came in response to allegations of an ISIS-inspired plot targeting a Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed that Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, had attempted to travel from Canada to New York City with the intention of carrying out a mass shooting. The planned attack was reportedly scheduled for either October 7, 2023, marking the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, or October 11, 2023, coinciding with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
Khan faces charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, a terrorist organization that gained global notoriety in 2014 but was territorially defeated in 2019. The case underscores the ongoing threat of extremist ideologies and the crucial role of international cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.
According to authorities, Khan began sharing ISIS propaganda videos and expressing support for the group on social media and encrypted messaging apps in November 2022. He communicated with undercover law enforcement officers, revealing plans to establish an "offline cell" of ISIS supporters in the United States. Khan allegedly sought to obtain AR-style rifles, ammunition, and other materials for the attack.
The target location, described by Khan as "the ultra orthodox hasidic jews world headquarters," is believed to be in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood, a center for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement since the 1940s. This Hasidic Jewish movement, founded in the late 18th century in Russia, has a significant presence in New York City, which hosts the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
"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 thwarted plot highlights the alarming rise in antisemitism globally and the persistent threat of terrorism against Jewish communities. It also raises concerns about the role of social media platforms in spreading extremist ideologies and the challenges of monitoring encrypted communications used by potential terrorists.
Khan's journey towards the United States began on September 6, 2023, from the Toronto area. After switching vehicles multiple times, he was intercepted near Ormstown, Quebec, approximately 12 miles from the US-Canada border—the world's longest international border between two countries.
Michael Duheme, commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This planned antisemitic attack against Jewish people in the U.S. is deplorable and there is no place for such ideological and hate-motivated crime in Canada."
Khan is scheduled to appear in the Superior Court of Justice in Montreal on September 13, 2023. As the legal proceedings unfold, this case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and international collaboration in combating terrorism and protecting vulnerable communities.
