A 20-year-old Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested on September 4 in connection with a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. Khan has been charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to the designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

According to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Khan had allegedly planned a terrorist attack in New York City with the intention of targeting Jewish people in the name of ISIS. The arrest was made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Canadian law enforcement partners.

FBI Director Christopher Wray commended the investigation led by the FBI, acknowledging the significant work done by the agency and its partners in disrupting Khan's sinister plan. Wray emphasized that the FBI remains committed to working closely with their domestic and international partners to combat terrorism and hold accountable those who seek to commit violence in the name of ISIS or any other terrorist organization.

The complaints against Khan state that he intended to travel from Canada to New York City to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn. It is alleged that Khan communicated his support for ISIS through social media and encrypted messaging applications, distributing propaganda videos and literature related to the extremist group.

During conversations with undercover law enforcement officers, Khan revealed his plans to create an "offline cell" of ISIS supporters and execute a coordinated assault using AR-style rifles on Israeli Jewish chabads in a specific U.S. city. He repeatedly instructed the undercover officers to obtain firearms, ammunition, and other materials for the planned attack.

Further investigation revealed that Khan changed his target location from City-1 to New York City, specifically targeting a Jewish center in Brooklyn. He planned to carry out the attack on or around October 7, 2024, marking the one-year anniversary of Hamas' terrorist attacks in Israel. Khan boasted about "slaughtering" Jews in New York City due to its significant Jewish population.

On September 4, Khan attempted to reach the U.S.-Canada border, but was apprehended in Ormstown, Canada, just 12 miles away from the crossing point. He is now facing charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.

The case is being investigated by the FBI's New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles Field Offices. The Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs, along with Canadian law enforcement, is working towards the extradition of Khan from Canada.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky and David J. Robles for the Southern District of New York, along with Trial Attorney Kevin C. Nunnally of the Justice Department's National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section, will be prosecuting the case.

The arrest of Muhammad Shahzeb Khan highlights the continued efforts of law enforcement agencies to counter the threat posed by terrorist organizations and their supporters. The Justice Department remains committed to working with its partners to ensure the safety and security of all communities within the United States.