Pakistani Man Admits Role in Foiled ISIS-Linked Attack on New York Jewish Center

WASHINGTON, Apr 9: A Pakistani national has pleaded guilty in the United States to terrorism charges linked to a planned mass shooting targeting a Jewish center in New York City, authorities announced.

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, also known as “Shahzeb Jadoon,” admitted to attempting to carry out acts of terrorism across national borders. Prosecutors said he planned to enter the U.S. and launch a large-scale हमला at a prominent Jewish religious center in Brooklyn using automatic weapons.

Khan, 21, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

According to the Justice Department, Khan intended to time the attack around the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, with the stated aim of killing as many Jews as possible. Officials said he viewed New York City as an ideal target due to its large Jewish population and believed the attack could become the deadliest on U.S. soil since the September 11 attacks.

Authorities said the plot was inspired by the extremist group ISIS, with Khan allegedly sharing propaganda and coordinating plans with individuals he believed were accomplices but were in fact undercover law enforcement officers.

Khan initially considered attacks in another U.S. city before shifting his focus to New York in August 2024, identifying a specific Jewish religious site in Brooklyn as his primary target. He allegedly instructed contacts to obtain assault-style rifles, ammunition, and other weapons, and discussed using a human smuggler to cross into the United States from Canada.

In September 2024, Khan traveled from the Toronto area toward the U.S. border but was intercepted and arrested near Ormstown, Canada, about 12 miles from the border, before he could enter the country.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the case highlights the effectiveness of counterterrorism efforts in preventing potential mass-casualty attacks.

Officials from the FBI and New York Police Department said the plot was disrupted through coordinated intelligence work, emphasizing their continued commitment to protecting religious communities from targeted violence.

The case involved cooperation between U.S. and Canadian authorities, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which helped secure Khan’s arrest and extradition to the United States in 2025.

Prosecutors said the investigation remains a key example of international coordination to counter terrorism threats before they materialize.