ISIS-inspired terrorist pleads guilty to plot to massacre Jews in New York City

A Pakistani national living in Canada has pleaded guilty to plotting a mass-casualty terrorist attack targeting New York City’s Jewish community, federal officials announced Thursday.

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 21, also known as “Shahzeb Jadoon,” admitted in court that he attempted to enter the United States to carry out an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a prominent Jewish center in Brooklyn. Authorities say the planned attack was timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel.

According to prosecutors, Khan’s goal was explicit: kill as many Jews as possible. Officials revealed that Khan described New York City as the “perfect” location due to its large Jewish population and boasted that his attack could rival the scale of 9/11.

The plot was ultimately foiled before Khan could reach US soil. He was arrested in September 2024 near the US-Canada border, roughly 12 miles from the crossing, after traveling from the Toronto area with the help of a human smuggler.

Federal authorities say Khan had been radicalized online and was actively spreading ISIS propaganda before developing his attack plan. He communicated extensively with individuals he believed were co-conspirators, but were instead undercover law enforcement officers. During those conversations, Khan laid out chilling details of his intended assault. He directed the undercover agents to acquire AR-style rifles, ammunition, and knives, and discussed targeting Jewish religious sites across a major US city before ultimately focusing on Brooklyn. At one point, Khan allegedly stated, “we are going to NYC to slaughter them,” and emphasized that even a non-event attack could “rack up easily a lot of jews.”

Law enforcement officials credited coordinated efforts between US and Canadian agencies for stopping what could have been a devastating attack. “This case underscores the ongoing threat posed by radical Islamic terrorism and the importance of proactive counterterrorism operations,” officials said, noting that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force played a central role in disrupting the plot.

Khan has now pleaded guilty to attempting to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, a charge that carries a potential life sentence. He is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2026.