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Khan intended to carry out the attack around the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, with the stated goal of killing as many Jews as possible.
By United with Israel Staff
U.S. authorities have revealed new details about a foiled terror plot targeting the Jewish community in New York after a Pakistani national admitted to planning a mass-casualty attack inspired by ISIS.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, 21-year-old Muhammad Shahzeb Khan pleaded guilty to attempting to carry out a terrorist attack at a prominent Jewish center in Brooklyn. He had planned to enter the United States illegally and carry out a mass shooting using automatic weapons.
Prosecutors said Khan intended to carry out the attack around the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, with the stated goal of killing as many Jews as possible. He described New York as an ideal target due to its large Jewish population and told contacts the attack could become “the largest” on U.S. soil since 9/11.
Investigators said Khan had been radicalized online and began spreading ISIS propaganda in late 2023 before advancing to operational planning. He communicated with individuals he believed were co-conspirators, who were in fact undercover law enforcement agents, instructing them to obtain AR-style rifles, ammunition and other equipment.
He initially considered targeting multiple Jewish sites, including Chabad centers, before narrowing his focus to a specific Jewish institution in Brooklyn. Authorities said he shared images of the planned location and discussed using knives in addition to firearms to increase casualties.
Khan traveled from the Toronto area toward the U.S.-Canada border in September 2024 with the assistance of a human smuggler but was arrested approximately 12 miles from the border before he could enter the United States.
Officials said the coordinated law enforcement operation prevented what could have been a large-scale attack on a major Jewish target.
The case reflects the ongoing threat facing Jewish communities worldwide and the need for continued vigilance against extremist violence.
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