WASHINGTON: A Pakistani citizen dwelling in Canada was arrested on Wednesday (Sep 4) and charged with planning an assault in New York Metropolis in assist of the Islamic State group, the Division of Justice stated on Friday (Sep 6).
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, is accused of plotting a mass taking pictures at a Jewish centre in Brooklyn round Oct 7, 2024, almost one yr after Hamas’ assault that killed greater than 1,000 individuals in Israel.
Legal professional Basic Merrick Garland stated Khan, who’s also called Shahzeb Jadoon, aimed to kill “as many Jewish individuals as attainable”.
Khan tried to journey from Canada to america the place he supposed to make use of automated and semi-automatic weapons to hold out the assault, in accordance with the indictment.
He was arrested in Canada, simply 19km from the US border.
Khan advised two undercover regulation enforcement officers of his plans to create “an actual offline cell” of Islamic State supporters to hold out an assault, the indictment alleged.
He instructed them to acquire AR-style assault rifles, ammunition and different supplies to hold out the assaults, and recognized particular areas the place the assaults would happen.
Khan focused New York Metropolis as a result of it has “the biggest Jewish inhabitants in America,” prosecutors stated.
“We’re deeply grateful to our Canadian companions for his or her vital regulation enforcement actions on this matter. Jewish communities — like all communities on this nation — mustn’t need to worry that they are going to be focused by a hate-fueled terrorist assault,” Garland stated in an announcement.
Khan faces as much as 20 years in jail.
