Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani citizen living in Canada, is facing federal charges for planning an attack on a New York City Jewish center around October 7 in support of the Islamic State group. Khan allegedly chose this date as the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack in which 1,200 people were killed. He also considered October 11, Yom Kippur, the holiest Jewish holiday. Khan was arrested 12 miles from the US-Canada border while traveling from Toronto to New York City. He had distributed pro-Islamic State propaganda and communicated with undercover officers about his plans to target Jews in the US. Khan asked for help obtaining semiautomatic rifles and hunting knives for mass shootings and throat slitting. He intended to form an Islamic State cell in North America to carry out the attack. Khan faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of attempting to provide support to a designated terrorist organization. The FBI and Canadian authorities were credited for the arrest. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland vowed to pursue justice for such plots, stating that no community should fear being targeted by hate-fueled terrorist attacks. Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, has not yet obtained legal counsel, and his case is under investigation.
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Man apprehended in suspected plot to harm Jewish individuals in New York near October 7th commemoration
