A chilling plot to carry out a terrorist attack against Jewish communities has emerged, following the arrest of Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani national, near the Canada-U.S. border. American and Canadian authorities apprehended Khan as he allegedly attempted to illegally enter the United States to execute his plans for violence against Jews, particularly focusing on New York City.
Khan, also known by another name, Shahzeb Jadoon, was reportedly arrested on September 4, 2024, close to Ormstown, Quebec, around 12 miles from the New York border. The charges against him were filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, indicting him on counts of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, namely ISIS.
According to law enforcement officials, this disturbing investigation was spearheaded by the FBI, working closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The timeline provided by authorities reveals Khan began his discussions about supporting ISIS and planning the attack as far back as November 2023 when he unwittingly communicated with undercover agents posing as fellow extremists.
During these conversations, Khan expressed his intention to form what he described as "a real offline cell" aimed at targeting Jewish institutions, particularly citing New York due to its significant Jewish population. He reportedly stated, "New York is perfect to target Jews" and suggested if the plan was successful, it would result in "the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11." This alarming remark traces back to the twin tower bombings on September 11, 2001, underscoring the weighty intentions behind his plotting.
Evidence collected by agents suggests Khan developed specific plans to carry out this attack on or around October 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, or the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which occurs shortly thereafter. Notably, he mentioned, "if we succeed with our plan, this would be the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11." Law enforcement officials pointed out his fixation on the timing, particularly because of anticipated gatherings of Jewish people during those dates.
Khan allegedly aimed to carry out his attack at a Chabad center, which is part of the Hasidic Jewish movement, and shared his operational tactics with the undercover agents. His plan escalated to discussions of arming himself with AR-15-style rifles and other deadly weapons. Prosecutors pointed out how he had already engaged human traffickers to facilitate his illegal crossing to the U.S. and had considered various locations to attack, detailing his thoughts about Jewish-centric targets.
On the actual day of his apprehension, authorities indicated Khan switched vehicles multiple times to elude detection, signifying his intent to avoid stopping under law enforcement scrutiny. His arrest was heralded as the result of effective collaboration between U.S. and Canadian authorities, with RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme condemning these violent plans as "deplorable" and reaffirming the lack of tolerance for such ideologically motivated hate crimes.
FBI Director Christopher Wray stressed the seriousness of these allegations, noting, "The defendant was allegedly determined to kill Jewish people here in the United States, nearly one year after Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel." The next step involves Khan's extradition process, which the U.S. Department of Justice is pursuing vigorously.
Khan's case raises significant attention to the rising threat against Jewish populations both locally and nationally, fueled by global conflicts, particularly the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas. This incident serves as another reminder of the persistent dangers posed by extremist ideologies and the need for diligent vigilance against such threats.
With Khan scheduled to appear before the Montreal court on September 13, the U.S. and Canadian authorities prepare for the next stages of litigation and discuss broader security measures to safeguard vulnerable communities.
