A Pakistani national has pleaded guilty to planning an ISIS-inspired mass-casualty attack targeting the Jewish community in New York City, US authorities announced.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 21, who was living in Canada at the time, admitted to attempting to carry out acts of terrorism and planning a mass shooting at a prominent Jewish center in Brooklyn. The attack was intended to coincide with the October 7, 2024 anniversary of the Hamas massacre in Israel.
According to the US Justice Department, Khan began expressing support for ISIS in late 2023, sharing propaganda online and communicating with individuals he believed were collaborators, but who were in fact undercover law enforcement officers.
During those exchanges, Khan outlined plans to enter the United States illegally from Canada and carry out a large-scale attack using automatic weapons. He instructed the undercover officers to obtain rifles, ammunition, and additional weapons, including knives, and discussed targeting Jewish institutions, including Chabad centers.
Prosecutors said Khan later narrowed his focus to a specific Jewish religious center in Brooklyn, describing New York as an ideal target due to its large Jewish population. He also sent images of the intended location and repeatedly emphasized his goal of maximizing casualties.
