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A Pakistani national has pleaded guilty to plotting a mass-casualty terrorist attack against Jews in New York City.
The plan was set for October 7, 2024, the first anniversary of the Hamas massacre in Israel.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 21, a Pakistani citizen based in Canada, admitted to planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a prominent Jewish religious center in Brooklyn. He also pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges tied to his attempt to enter the United States to carry out the attack.
While in Canada, Khan openly supported the Islamic State terrorist group. He distributed propaganda and communicated with individuals he believed were collaborators. In reality, they were undercover law enforcement officers. He initially discussed targeting Jewish sites across multiple U.S. cities. He later narrowed his focus in August 2024 to a major Jewish center in Brooklyn.
“New York is perfect to target Jews because it has the largest Jewish population in America,” Khan said. “Even if we don’t attack an event, we could easily rack up a lot of Jews… we are going to slaughter them.”
He instructed the undercover officers to obtain assault rifles, ammunition, and other materials, and urged the use of knives to “slit their throats.” He also sent images of the intended target and described how to maximize casualties. In another exchange, he claimed the attack could become “the largest attack on US soil since 9/11.”
On September 4, 2024, Khan traveled from Toronto toward the U.S.-Canada border. He intended to enter the United States to carry out the attack. Authorities intercepted him near Ormstown, Quebec, approximately 12 miles from the crossing. He was later extradited to the United States in June 2025.
U.S. officials underscored both the scale of the threat and its explicitly antisemitic intent. Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg said Khan planned the attack “with the explicit goal of killing as many Jews as possible.”
The case is a stark reminder that the ideology that drove the October 7 massacre continues to inspire attacks targeting Jews worldwide.
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