Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani national living in Canada, was arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York City in support of ISIS. He faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and could spend up to 20 years in prison if convicted. FBI Director Christopher Wray commended the FBI team and partners for disrupting Khan’s plan and preventing potential harm to the Jewish community in the United States. Khan was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a terrorism warrant issued out of the Southern District of New York.
Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, had been communicating through encrypted messaging apps since last November to plan the attack in Brooklyn. He unknowingly interacted with two undercover officers, detailing his intention to create a coordinated assault using AR-style assault rifles in a city other than New York. Khan instructed the officers to procure weapons, ammunition, and other supplies for the attack, mentioning specific locations where the shootings would occur and suggesting the use of hunting knives to slit throats. He identified October 7th and 11th as ideal days for targeting Jews in anticipation of protests and Yom Kippur.
Khan later shifted his focus to New York City and a specific Jewish center, citing it as the perfect target due to the city’s large Jewish population. He envisioned the attack as the largest on U.S. soil since 9/11, expressing a desire to slaughter as many Jews as possible. The Department of Justice noted that Khan’s arrest highlighted the ongoing need to combat antisemitism and terrorism, urging vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies to prevent further threats to the community.
The Justice Department emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, with Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stating that Khan had planned the attack near the anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel with the goal of slaughtering Jewish people in the name of ISIS. Garland reiterated the Department’s commitment to working with domestic and international partners to counter the threat posed by terrorist organizations and their supporters. Ron Kissane, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, underscored the Task Force’s dedication to preventing such plots before they could be carried out.
The case involving Khan highlights the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to thwart potential terrorist attacks. Garland stressed that Jewish communities, like all communities in the United States, should not fear being targeted by hate-fueled violence. The U.S. government’s increased efforts to combat ISIS and other terrorist organizations in Syria and elsewhere demonstrate a commitment to addressing security threats and protecting vulnerable populations. In the wake of Khan’s arrest and the foiled mass shooting plot, authorities remain focused on preventing acts of terrorism and preserving public safety.
