Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, was arrested Wednesday in connection with a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, faces charges of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Khan allegedly planned a terrorist attack in New York City on or around October 7, 2024, aiming to target Jewish people in the name of ISIS. “Thanks to the investigative work of the FBI and the swift actions of our Canadian law enforcement partners, the defendant was taken into custody,” Garland said. He reaffirmed that Jewish communities, like all communities, should not have to live in fear of hate-fueled terrorist attacks.
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FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted that Khan’s plot to kill Jewish people in the U.S. was uncovered nearly a year after Hamas’ attack on Israel. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners to investigate and hold accountable those who seek to commit violence in the name of ISIS or other terrorist organizations,” Wray said.
The complaint details Khan’s attempts to travel from Canada to New York City to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, using automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Khan began publicly supporting ISIS in November 2023 by distributing propaganda videos and literature. Over time, he communicated with undercover law enforcement officers (UCs) about his plans to form an ISIS “cell” in the U.S. and carry out coordinated attacks using AR-style rifles.
In August 2024, Khan shifted his focus from an unnamed U.S. city to New York City, specifically targeting a Jewish center in Brooklyn. He planned the attack to coincide with the anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. Khan expressed his intent to “slaughter” Jews in New York, believing the city’s large Jewish population made it an ideal target.
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As the date of the planned attack approached, Khan urged the UCs to obtain weapons and other materials, including hunting knives, to carry out the attack. He also explored rental properties near the targeted location and arranged for a human smuggler to help him cross the U.S.-Canada border.
On September 4, Khan attempted to reach the U.S.-Canada border, using multiple vehicles to evade detection. He was stopped approximately 12 miles from the border in Ormstown, Canada, where he was arrested.
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Khan has been charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. The FBI’s New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles Field Offices are leading the investigation, with assistance from Canadian law enforcement. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs is working to extradite Khan from Canada.
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