Canadian Resident Arrested for Alleged NYC Jewish Center Attack Plot
U.S. officials charge a Pakistani citizen in Canada with planning a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York. The FBI-led investigation uncovered an ISIS-inspired plot timed for October 2024.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, has been apprehended for allegedly planning a mass shooting targeting Jewish individuals in New York City. The arrest, made on September 4, 2024, came as a result of a joint operation between U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies.
The U.S. Justice Department has charged Khan with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, specifically the Islamic State (ISIS). This charge stems from an investigation that began in late 2023 when Khan allegedly shared ISIS propaganda on social media and encrypted messaging platforms.
Law enforcement officials utilized undercover operatives to engage with Khan online. During these interactions, Khan reportedly instructed the agents to acquire AR-style rifles and ammunition. He allegedly expressed intentions to carry out an attack on either October 7 or October 11, 2024. The former date marks the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks in southern Israel, while the latter coincides with the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
Khan purportedly chose New York City as the target due to its substantial Jewish population, which is the largest outside of Israel with over 1.5 million Jewish residents. In his communications, Khan allegedly stated that a successful attack could rival the scale of the September 11, 2001 terrorist incidents.
The FBI, working in collaboration with Canadian authorities, intercepted Khan approximately 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border. This international cooperation exemplifies the increased focus on counter-terrorism efforts since the 9/11 attacks, particularly in addressing the threat of "lone wolf" terrorism.
"Khan is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7th of this year with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible."
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating extremism, especially when facilitated through social media and encrypted communications. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation in preventing potential terrorist acts across borders.
As investigations continue, authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to protect communities and prevent acts of violence inspired by extremist ideologies.
