A Pakistani man residing in Canada was arrested this week and accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York. Federal authorities allege that the suspect, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, intended to carry out the attack on the one-year anniversary of the October 7, 2022, Hamas attack that triggered the latest conflict in the Middle East.
According to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Khan attempted to travel from Canada to New York City with the express purpose of “slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible.” The 20-year-old, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was apprehended on September 4 and charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
Garland stated in a press release that Jewish communities, like all communities in the United States, should not live in fear of hate-fueled terrorist attacks. Khan’s lawyer, his current location in Canada, and the timing of his potential extradition to the U.S. remain unclear.
The Justice Department and the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office are collaborating on the case, but deferred to Canadian national police for further information. While the Canadian police have not responded to requests for comment, they stated online that Khan will appear in the Superior Court of Justice in Montreal on September 13.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner, Michael Duheme, condemned the alleged plot, emphasizing that there is no place for ideologically and hate-motivated crimes in Canada.
U.S. authorities revealed that Khan began sharing ISIS propaganda videos and expressing his support for the terror group on social media and encrypted messaging apps starting last November. In conversations with undercover law enforcement officers, Khan allegedly expressed his intention to establish a “real offline cell” of ISIS to carry out attacks against “Israeli Jewish Chabads” in America.
Khan reportedly claimed he needed to acquire AR-style assault rifles, ammunition, hunting knives, and other materials along with another ISIS supporter based in the U.S. He provided details about his border crossing plans and considered attacking either on October 7 or October 11, which is the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
On August 20, Khan allegedly confirmed to the undercover officers that he had chosen New York as his target due to its large Jewish population. He sent a photograph of the specific location within a Jewish center where he planned to execute the attack, referring to it as “the ultra orthodox hasidic jews world headquarters.”
Khan’s journey to the U.S. began on Wednesday morning when he left the Toronto area in a car that picked up additional passengers. The group switched cars around Nepanee and Montreal before their vehicle was stopped near Ormstown, Quebec, which is about 12 miles from the international border.
The alleged plot underscores the growing threat of extremism and underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism. Law enforcement agencies are committed to protecting communities from such threats and ensuring that those who seek to incite violence are brought to justice.
