In a major counterterrorism breakthrough , Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani national, was extradited from Canada to the United States for allegedly organizing an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York City on October 7, 2024, the first anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
The announcement was made by the U.S. Department of Justice and further confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel, who described it as an important intercept of a potential massive terror attack.
"Khan allegedly planned to travel from Canada to New York to carry out a mass shooting in support of ISIS at a Jewish center in Brooklyn,"
Further on , Director Patel praised the efforts of FBI teams and international partners for exposing and dismantling the plan before it could be executed. “This case is a reminder of the constant threat of terrorism facing every corner of the world — as well as the disturbing rise in threats against our Jewish communities,” Patel said in his official post on X.
Attack Foiled Along U.S.-Canada Border
Khan, 20, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested by Canadian authorities near Ormstown, which is about 12 miles from the U.S. border, on September 4, 2024, just weeks before his planned attack. According to court documents, he had been using encrypted messaging apps to coordinate with what he believed were ISIS members - who were actually undercover FBI agents.
In these communications, Khan discussed plans for a coordinated shooting, targeting Jewish "chabads" across New York City using AR-style rifles and hunting knives. He emphasized that October 7 and October 11 (Yom Kippur) were the ideal dates due to expected Jewish gatherings.
A Disturbing Pattern
Khan’s case is part of a growing threat landscape identified by the FBI in its testimony titled “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland”.
Particularly in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the agency issued a warning about an increase in lone actors and small extremist cells radicalizing online and focusing on soft targets like Jewish places of worship. Such lone offenders—both Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs) and Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs) - are regarded by the FBI as the biggest threat to American security in the modern era.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic incidents in the U.S. hit a record high in 2024, highlighting the seriousness of the threat
In the face of an increasingly unstable domestic and international environment, the FBI emphasizes that terrorism remains its top national security priority and calls on synagogues, schools, and Jewish community centers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
Facing Justice
Khan has now been formally charged in the Southern District of New York with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization (ISIS) and attempting to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
As tensions rise globally, especially in the Middle East, the FBI reiterated its commitment to protecting all American communities from hate-fueled violence.
