A Pakistani national has pleaded guilty in the United States to planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a Jewish centre in New York, officials said, adding that the attack was timed around the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas assault.
The case, disclosed by the US Justice Department, centres on a plot that investigators say could have led to large-scale casualties in Brooklyn. The accused, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan (21), also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, now faces up to life imprisonment. His sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2026.
According to officials, Khan had planned to use automatic weapons to carry out the attack at a prominent Jewish religious site. Assistant Attorney General John A Eisenberg said the plan was designed to cause maximum harm.
“Khan planned a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York City, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks, with the explicit goal of killing as many Jews as possible,” said Eisenberg.
Investigators said Khan believed New York was an ideal location due to its large Jewish population and had described the planned strike as potentially the “largest attack on US soil since 9/11.”
Prosecutors said Khan, a Pakistani citizen living in Canada, began posting pro-ISIS content online in late 2023. He later communicated with people he thought were allies, but who were actually undercover law enforcement officers.
During these exchanges, he discussed using AR-style rifles and asked for help in securing weapons and ammunition. He also referred to targeting “Israeli Jewish chabads” across the city.
By August 2024, authorities said Khan had zeroed in on New York, selecting a Jewish centre in Brooklyn as the target. He planned to carry out the attack around October 7, 2024.
Messages cited in court documents show him urging associates to obtain rifles and knives, while stating that “New york is perfect to target jews” and “we are going to nyc to slaughter them.”
Officials said Khan tried to reach the United States with the help of a human smuggler. On September 4, 2024, he travelled from the Toronto region towards the US border but was stopped and arrested in Ormstown, Canada, about 12 miles away.
US Attorney Jay Clayton said the operation was halted before Khan could enter the country.
“Thanks to the work of our law enforcement partners at the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI, Khan’s plan was disrupted before he reached the United States,” Clayton said.
FBI officials said the case highlights the continuing threat from ISIS-inspired individuals. Acting Assistant Director Coult Markovsky said the guilty plea ensures accountability for a plan that could have resulted in significant loss of life.
The investigation involved close coordination between US and Canadian authorities, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was handed over to US authorities in June last year.
