A Pakistani citizen residing in Canada is facing federal charges for a plan to attack a New York City Jewish center on or around Oct. 7 in support of the Islamic State group, prosecutors revealed on Friday.
Authorities claim the suspect chose Oct. 7 to coincide with the one-year anniversary of a Hamas terrorist attack that killed over 1,200 individuals and took about 250 hostages. He also considered Oct. 11, Yom Kippur, the holiest holiday in Judaism.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, was arrested just 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border while traveling from Toronto to New York City. He allegedly planned to slaughter Jewish people in the name of ISIS.
Khan communicated with undercover officers, expressing his intention to form an Islamic State group cell in North America to execute attacks on Jews. He sought help in obtaining weapons like semiautomatic rifles and knives for mass shootings and throat-slitting.
If convicted, Khan faces up to 20 years in prison for attempting to provide support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The FBI and Canadian authorities collaborated on his arrest.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the commitment to justice for potential hate-fueled terrorist attacks.
Jonathan Dienst, Tom Winter, and Michael Kosnar contributed.
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