New York Terror Plot Foiled: Pakistani Man Arrested In Canada Ahead Of Hamas Strike Anniversary

A 20-year-old Pakistani man, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, was arrested in Canada for allegedly attempting to aid the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in planning a terrorist attack in New York City.

According to the US Department of Justice, Khan was accused of providing resources and support for an attack aimed at targeting Jewish people, close to the anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel.

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The alleged plot was meant to take place around October 7, marking one year since the 2023 Hamas attack, and October 11, coinciding with Yom Kippur, a significant Jewish religious holiday.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that Khan "planned the terrorist attack with the intent of slaughtering in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible."

Khan had allegedly intended to cross the border from Canada to New York City, specifically to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, NY.

FBI Director Christopher Wray praised the disruption of the plot, noting that the FBI will continue to prioritize counterterrorism efforts.

Khan's digital activities reportedly began in November 2023, when he started posting on social media in support of ISIS and distributing ISIS propaganda videos and literature. He was also in communication with undercover law enforcement officers on an encrypted messaging app.

These communications revealed his plans to provide the agents with information on obtaining AR-style assault rifles, ammunition, and other materials to carry out the attacks.

The US Department of Justice stated that Khan believed October 7 and 11 would be ideal for targeting Jewish people due to the significance of the dates.

He is now facing charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, Khan could face up to 20 years in prison.

This attempted attack aligns with the backdrop of ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, which intensified after Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing and injuring numerous civilians.

This incident remains a key reference point for the planned terrorist actions Khan was allegedly aiming to commemorate.