TORONTO: A Pakistani national has been arrested by Canadian law enforcement for allegedly plotting the biggest terror attack in the United States since 9/11, targeting New York City’s Jewish community.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement on Friday that 20-year-old Mohammed Shahzeb Khan was arrested in the town of Ormstown, Quebec, on Wednesday. The investigation was conducted in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“Khan was allegedly planning a deadly attack targeting Jewish people living in the United States,” the statement said. He is charged with attempting to leave Canada to commit crimes on behalf of a terrorist group, as well as participating in the activities of a terrorist group.
He is due to appear in court in Montreal on Friday.
According to the complaint against Khan, he also discussed a “coordinated attack” in India.
“News of threats against the Jewish community is disturbing. We do not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment or violence targeted at the Jewish community,” the statement added.
“This planned anti-Semitic attack against Jewish people in the United States is deplorable and such ideologically and hatefully motivated crimes will not be tolerated in Canada. We are committed to keeping all Canadians safe and we ask for all Canadians’ help in preventing threats like this,” said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duhem.
Canada’s Public Security Minister Dominic Leblanc said in a post on X that the arrests were the “result of strong collaboration” between the RCMP and the FBI. “Jewish Canadians and Jewish Americans have the right to live safely in their communities,” he added.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was suspected of plotting a terror attack in New York City on or around October 7 with the “express purpose of massacring as many Jewish people as possible in the name of ISIS.”
“Thanks to the investigative work of the FBI and the swift actions of our Canadian law enforcement partners, the defendant is now in custody. As I said to Canada’s Minister of Public Security yesterday, I am extremely grateful to our Canadian partners for taking significant law enforcement action in this case,” he added.
According to the Department of Justice statement, beginning in about November 2023, Khan began posting on social media about his support for the Islamic State (ISIS) and communicating with others on encrypted messaging apps, distributing ISIS propaganda videos and documents. He began contacting two undercover law enforcement officers.
During the conversation, he revealed that he wanted to carry out terror attacks with unnamed American allies. He wanted the attacks to take place on October 7 and October 11. October 7 marks the first anniversary of Hamas’ deadly terror attacks on Israel, and October 11 marks Yom Kippur.