Canadian man arrested over alleged plot to attack New York Jewish center on Oct 7

A Canadian man was charged on Friday for an alleged plot to attack a Jewish center in New York City on the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel.

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, who was born in Pakistan but lived in Canada and was an alleged supporter of the Islamic State (ISIS), was arrested after a complaint was filed in the Southern district of New York. The suspect had been intending to travel to Brooklyn to carry out a mass shooting, the Department of Justice alleged in a press release.

The Pakistani national, who was arrested on Sept. 4, has been charged with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

“The defendant is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7th of this year with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. "Jewish communities — like all communities in this country — should not have to fear that they will be targeted by a hate-fueled terrorist attack."

The FBI has been investigating Khan since 2023, when he began sharing pro-ISIS posts on social media. He then allegedly unknowingly revealed the plan to two undercover FBI agents.

“The defendant was allegedly determined to kill Jewish people here in the United States, nearly one year after Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners to investigate and hold accountable those who seek to commit violence in the name of ISIS or other terrorist organizations. Fighting terrorism remains the FBI’s top priority."

Khan, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty, now faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.