A 21-year-old Pakistani national has pleaded guilty to plotting a mass shooting at a prominent Jewish religious center in Brooklyn, an ISIS-inspired attack at Jewish center in Fresh York that prosecutors say was intended to be the largest terrorist event on U.S. Soil since 9/11.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, similarly known as Shahzeb Jadoon, appeared before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe to admit to attempting to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. The plot, which targeted the Brooklyn Jewish community, was designed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Khan, who was residing in Canada at the time of his planning, was intercepted by law enforcement on September 4, 2024, although attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border. He was arrested in Ormstown, Canada, approximately 12 miles from the border, effectively neutralizing a plot that officials say aimed to inflict maximum casualties through the use of automatic weapons and knives.
The case highlights the intersection of global extremist propaganda and local vulnerability, as Khan utilized social media to distribute ISIS literature before coordinating with individuals he believed were accomplices, but who were actually undercover officers.
The Evolution of a Terror Plot
The plot began to take shape around November 2023. According to court documents, Khan began communicating his support for ISIS on social media and planning attacks within the United States. Initially, his targets were broader; he discussed with undercover officers the use of AR-style assault rifles to target “Israeli Jewish chabads” across an unspecified U.S. City.
By August 2024, Khan’s focus narrowed specifically to New York City. He identified a prominent Jewish religious center in Brooklyn as his primary target, explicitly stating that the city was the “perfect” venue due to its large Jewish population. In communications with the undercover officers, Khan asserted that “we are going to nyc to slaughter them,” and provided photographs of specific enclosed areas within the center to plan the ambush.
To ensure the attack had maximum symbolic impact, Khan timed the operation for the anniversary of the October 7 attacks. His requests for equipment were graphic and specific, urging the undercover agents to acquire not only AR-style rifles and ammunition but also hunting knives to “slit their throats.”
International Coordination and Interception
The disruption of the plot required a complex, multi-national law enforcement effort. Khan had identified a human smuggler to facilitate his illegal entry into the United States from Toronto, Canada. However, the FBI and its partners were already monitoring his movements.
The operation culminated in his arrest in Canada, followed by a lengthy legal process to bring him to the U.S. The U.S. Department of Justice worked with Canadian authorities to secure his extradition, which was finalized in June 2025.
The investigation was led by the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, a collaborative unit comprising the FBI and the New York City Police Department, along with more than 50 other federal, state, and local agencies. Support was also provided by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Chicago field offices, the New York State Police, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 4, 2024 | Arrested in Ormstown, Canada, 12 miles from U.S. Border |
| June 2025 | Extradition to the United States completed |
| Current | Pleaded guilty to terrorism transcending national boundaries |
| Aug. 12, 2026 | Scheduled sentencing date |
Official Response and Legal Consequences
Federal and city officials characterized the plot as a direct assault on the fundamental rights of religious groups to gather without fear. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg emphasized that the National Security Division would ensure Khan faces the “full weight of American law.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch described the case as a testament to the “sophisticated work” of the NYPD in coordinating with federal partners to stop hate-fueled violence before it could manifest in a devastating attack.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York reinforced the city’s stance against such violence, stating that “terrorism and other hate-based violence have zero place in New York City.”
Khan now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for his role in the ISIS-inspired attack at Jewish center in New York. While the maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress, the final sentence will be determined by Judge Gardephe during the upcoming sentencing hearing.
Note: This report concerns ongoing legal proceedings. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The next significant development in this case will occur on August 12, 2026, when Muhammad Shahzeb Khan is scheduled to be sentenced.
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