A Pakistani national, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, also known as “Shahzeb Jadoon,” has admitted to attempting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York. The plot was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks. Khan faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and is set to be sentenced on August 12, 2026.
Officials revealed that Khan had planned a large-scale attack in Brooklyn using automatic weapons. Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg stated that Khan aimed to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York City, specifically targeting Jews. Khan considered New York ideal due to its significant Jewish population, claiming it could be the largest attack on US soil since 9/11.
According to prosecutors, Khan, a Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, started expressing support for ISIS in late 2023 through online posts and communications. He discussed his plans with individuals he believed were co-conspirators but were actually undercover officers. Khan intended to use AR-style assault rifles to target Israeli Jewish centers in New York City.
Khan shifted his focus to New York City by August 2024, identifying a prominent Jewish religious center in Brooklyn as the target. He planned to carry out the attack around October 7, 2024, marking one year since the Hamas assault on Israel. Khan’s messages indicated his intention to slaughter Jews in New York City and execute the largest attack on US soil since 9/11.
Authorities mentioned that Khan tried to enter the US with the help of a human smuggler but was intercepted and arrested in Canada before reaching the border. US Attorney Jay Clayton stated that the plot was disrupted before Khan could enter the country, thanks to the efforts of law enforcement partners. FBI officials emphasized the ongoing threats posed by ISIS-inspired actors and highlighted the cooperation between US and Canadian authorities in Khan’s arrest and extradition to the US in June 2025.
