Man Pleads Guilty to Plotting 2024 Attack on NYC Jewish Center

21-year-old Pakistani national admitted to planning mass shooting in support of ISIS

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:37am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a handgun magazine loaded with ammunition, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying the serious, investigative nature of this crime.A chilling reminder of the tools of terror, this stark image evokes the grim reality behind a foiled plot to attack a New York City Jewish center.NYC Today

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 21-year-old Pakistani man, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a terrorism charge for plotting to attack a Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York in October 2024. Khan said he was motivated by the Islamic State group's call for Muslims to kill Jewish people, and planned to use automatic weapons to carry out the attack, which he hoped would be the largest on U.S. soil since 9/11.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing threat of homegrown terrorism and the challenges law enforcement faces in detecting and preventing such plots, especially those inspired by foreign terrorist organizations like ISIS. It also raises concerns about the radicalization of young people and the need for robust counterterrorism efforts to protect vulnerable communities.

The details

Khan admitted that in September 2024, he planned to cross the border from Canada into the United States with the intention of attacking a prominent Jewish religious center in Brooklyn. He had rented a space next to the center and intended to use guns and knives to kill as many Jewish people as possible. Khan said he was motivated by the Islamic State group's call for Muslims to retaliate against Israel's actions in Gaza.

  • Khan was arrested on September 4, 2024 in Canada, near the U.S. border.
  • Khan planned to carry out the attack in October 2024, on the anniversary of Hamas attacks in 2023.

The players

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan

A 21-year-old Pakistani national who pleaded guilty to a terrorism charge for plotting to attack a Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York in support of the Islamic State group.

John A. Eisenberg

Assistant Attorney General for National Security, who said Khan planned a mass shooting to coincide with the anniversary of Hamas attacks with the goal of killing as many Jews as possible.

Paul G. Gardephe

The judge who accepted Khan's guilty plea and will sentence him on August 12.

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What they’re saying

“I was not raised this way. What I planned to do was wrong.”

— Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, Defendant

“Khan planned a mass shooting to coincide with the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks 'with the explicit goal of killing as many Jews as possible.'”

— John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security

What’s next

Khan will be sentenced by Judge Paul G. Gardephe on August 12, where he could face up to life in prison.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing threat of homegrown terrorism inspired by foreign extremist groups, and the need for continued vigilance and robust counterterrorism efforts to protect vulnerable communities from such attacks.