A Muslim national who resides in Canada was detained on Wednesday and charged with planning an attack in New York City to support the Islamic State, according to the Department of Justice’s report on Friday.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, is accused of plotting a large shooting at a Jewish centre in Brooklyn around Oct. 7, 2024, almost one year after Hamas ‘ attack in Israel.
U. S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Khan, who is also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, aimed to remove” as some Jewish people as possible”.
The Department of Justice was unable to verify whether Khan had sought legitimate guidance.
According to the indictment, Khan attempted to go from Canada to the United States where he intended to carry out the attack with involuntary and semi-automatic arms.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a speech Friday they arrested Khan on Wednesday in Ormstown, Quebec, west of Montreal. On September 13th, he will appear in court in Montreal.
According to the indictment, Khan allegedly told two undercover law enforcement agents that he intended to” make a real internet body” of Islamic State followers to carry out an attack.
He gave them instructions on how to bring out the attacks and where certain locations where the attacks may take place. He also advised them to get AR-style assault rifles, munitions, and other materials.
Khan qualified New York City because it has” the largest Jewish population in America,” according to prosecutors.
Our American partners have been key players in this matter, and we are forever grateful for their assistance. Jewish communities should n’t have to worry about being the target of a hate-fueled terrorist attack, Garland said in a statement.
Khan faces up to 20 years in prison.
Oct. 7 would be the first anniversary of an invasion by Hamas on Israel that left about 1, 200 people dying and triggered an Israeli abuse, now in its tenth month, that has so far killed more than 40, 000 people.
Since then, anti-Semitic and anti-Islamophobic attacks have increased in areas across North America.
