Pakistani Citizen Extradited to US on Terrorism Charges

A 20-year-old Pakistani national, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, has been extradited from Canada to the United States. The extradition, which occurred on Tuesday, is in connection with an indictment filed in the Southern District of New York.

Charges and Court Appearance

Khan faces charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to Daesh, a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO). He is also charged with attempting to commit acts of terrorism that transcend national boundaries. He is slated to appear in court later today.

Statements from Officials

Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “Daesh remains a significant threat to the American people, with our Jewish citizens being particularly targeted by these groups. The Department of Justice is committed to this extradition and will prosecute this individual to the fullest extent of the law.”

FBI Director Kash Patel added, “Khan allegedly sought to enter the US to perpetrate an attack on the Jewish community in New York City, planning a Daesh-inspired mass shooting around the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack. The FBI and its partners successfully thwarted this plan, and Khan has been extradited to face justice in New York.”

US Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York remarked, “As alleged, Khan attempted to enter the US to execute a deadly terrorist assault on a Jewish center in New York City. His anti-Semitic scheme was prevented through the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors dedicated to combating antisemitism and stopping terror.”

Details of the Alleged Plot

Khan was initially apprehended in Canada on September 4, 2024, based on a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. The complaint states that Khan, residing in Canada, aimed to travel to New York City to conduct a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn in support of Daesh, using automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

Around November 2023, Khan began expressing his support for Daesh on social media and through encrypted messaging, distributing Daesh propaganda. He then began communicating with two undercover law enforcement officers (UCs).

During these conversations, Khan verified that he and a US-based Daesh supporter (Associate-1) were planning an attack in a specific US city, aiming to create a ‘real offline cell’ of Daesh supporters for a ‘coordinated assault’ using AR-style rifles. He also detailed his plan to cross the border from Canada into the US.

Khan highlighted the significance of “October 7th and Oct 11th” for targeting Jewish individuals, noting the potential for protests on October 7 and the observance of Yom Kippur on October 11.

Around August 20, Khan shifted his target to New York City, specifically a Jewish center in Brooklyn. He planned the attack for around October 7, 2024, the one-year anniversary of the war in the Middle East.

Khan stated that “New York is perfect to target Jews” due to its large Jewish population. He sent a photograph of his intended attack location and urged the UCs to acquire weapons and equipment, including knives.

He repeatedly expressed his desire to carry out the attack to support Daesh, discussing rental properties near the target and paying a smuggler to help him cross the border. Khan also mentioned that “if we succeed with our plan this would be the largest attack on US soil since 9/11”.

On September 4, Khan attempted to reach the US-Canada border, using multiple vehicles before being apprehended by Canadian authorities near Ormstown, Canada.

Legal Consequences

Khan is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and attempting to commit acts of terrorism across national borders. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. The court will determine the sentence based on US Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The FBI’s New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles Field Offices are actively investigating the case. The Department of Justice’s Criminal Division facilitated Khan’s extradition from Canada.