The U.S. Department of Justice will charge Khan with attempting to support ISIS.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has stated that Shahzeb Khan Jadoon, a 20-year-old Pakistani national residing in Canada, sought to kill as many Jewish people as possible in support of ISIS. Khan has been arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Khan is charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, though the final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The Department of Justice reported that Khan intended to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn. His support for ISIS became evident in November 2023, when he began sharing propaganda and engaging in encrypted communications. According to the complaint, Khan sought AR-style assault rifles, ammunition, and other supplies for the attack and planned to cross the border from Canada to execute it.
Khan identified October 7 and October 11 as key dates for the attack, with October 7 marking the anniversary of the Hamas attack and October 11 being Yom Kippur, a significant Jewish holiday. FBI Director Christopher Wray praised the FBI and its partners for thwarting Khan’s plan and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating terrorism.
