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 12 months after Hamas’ assault that killed greater than 1,000 folks in Israel.
Lawyer Common Merrick Garland stated Khan, who’s also referred to as Shahzeb Jadoon, aimed to kill “as many Jewish folks as doable”.
Khan tried to journey from Canada to the US the place he meant to make use of computerized and semi-automatic weapons to hold out the assault, based on the indictment.
He was arrested in Canada, simply 19km from the US border.
Khan instructed 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 places the place the assaults would happen.
Khan focused New York Metropolis as a result of it has “the most important Jewish inhabitants in America,” prosecutors stated.
“We’re deeply grateful to our Canadian companions for his or her important regulation enforcement actions on this matter. Jewish communities — like all communities on this nation — shouldn’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.