Suspect Pleads Guilty in Attempted Mass Shooting At Brooklyn Jewish Center Near October 7th Anniversary

Brooklyn, NY. — A Pakistani national has pleaded guilty to federal terrorism charges after authorities say he attempted to enter the United States to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York.

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 21, who also used the alias “Shahzeb Jadoon,” entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2026.

According to the Justice Department, Khan planned an ISIS-inspired attack targeting a prominent Jewish religious site in Brooklyn, intending to maximize casualties. Prosecutors say he aimed to carry out the attack around October 7, marking the one-year anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel.

Officials said Khan viewed New York City as an ideal target due to its large Jewish population and expressed a desire to carry out one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. soil since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Federal investigators revealed that Khan began expressing support for ISIS in late 2023, sharing propaganda online before developing a plan to conduct attacks in the United States. He communicated extensively with individuals he believed were co-conspirators—who were, in fact, undercover law enforcement officers.

During those communications, Khan provided detailed instructions to acquire AR-style rifles, ammunition, and other weapons. He also discussed using knives in the attack and identified specific locations within the targeted Brooklyn site.

In August 2024, authorities say Khan shifted his focus specifically to New York City, selecting a Jewish religious center in Brooklyn. He reiterated his goal of inflicting mass casualties and continued coordinating logistics, including arranging to be smuggled across the U.S.-Canada border.

On September 4, 2024, Khan traveled from the Toronto area toward the border but was intercepted and arrested by Canadian authorities near Ormstown, approximately 12 miles from the United States.

The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the New York Police Department, and Canadian law enforcement partners. Khan was later extradited to the United States in June 2025.

Officials emphasized that the plot was disrupted before Khan could enter the country or carry out the attack.

“This case underscores the ongoing threat of terrorism and the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts to prevent violence,” federal prosecutors said.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with support from the Justice Department’s National Security Division.