A 20-year-old Pakistani man, identified as Mohammed Joseph Khan, has been charged with allegedly plotting to attack Jews in New York. The Justice Department officials revealed that the attack was planned to coincide with the first anniversary of the October 7th Hamas terror attacks in Israel.
Khan had been under surveillance by federal law enforcement for nearly a year before his arrest near the US-Canada border. Court documents indicate that Khan discussed his plans on an encrypted messaging app, unknowingly speaking to undercover law enforcement officers posing as accomplices.
According to federal prosecutors, Khan was using encrypted messaging apps to communicate with the undercover agents, expressing his desire to carry out an attack targeting Jewish civilians. He specifically mentioned his intention to 'kill as many Jewish civilians as possible.'
The charges against Khan include attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS. Prosecutors outlined a timeline indicating that Khan contacted the undercover agents in November, instructed them to obtain weapons in July, and by August, he had shifted his focus to targeting New York City due to its large Jewish population.
Khan suggested attacking on October 7th, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, or during Yom Kippur, a major Jewish holiday. Law enforcement officials moved in to arrest Khan after he shared a photo of himself with a suitcase of cash, indicating his readiness to travel and carry out the attack.
Additionally, the indictment revealed that Khan allegedly paid a human smuggler to help him cross the border into the US. He contacted the smuggler, paid in cash, and made multiple car switches in an attempt to evade detection. However, law enforcement successfully apprehended Khan just 12 miles from the Canadian border.
The Justice Department prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of the charges against the Pakistani national and highlighted the collaborative efforts that led to thwarting the terror plot.
