Pakistani Plotted ISIS 10.7 Anniversary Bombing in NYC
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.
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.
Authorities said Khan intended the attack to be one of the deadliest on US soil since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Khan was arrested on September 4, 2024, near the US-Canada border after traveling from Toronto. He was later extradited to the United States in June 2025.
Senior US officials said the case highlights both the persistence of antisemitic terror threats and the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts. The plot was disrupted before Khan was able to enter the United States.
Officials from the Justice Department, FBI, and New York law enforcement emphasized that the attack specifically targeted Jewish civilians and institutions, underscoring concerns about ongoing threats to Jewish communities.
Khan now faces sentencing in US federal court, where he could receive a lengthy prison term for terrorism-related offenses.