The FBI and the New York Police Department prevented a 2016 terrorist attack in New York City inspired by the Islamic State, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Unsealed charges show Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, 19, Talha Haroon, 19, and Russell Salic, 37, allegedly planned to organize bombings and shootings in New York City during Ramadhan in support of the Islamic State. Releasing bombs in Times Square and the New York City subway system, and shooting civilians at concert venues were included in the plans.
The trio’s plot began to unravel when an undercover FBI agent pretended to be an ISIS supporter and offered to provide assistance with the attacks.
The unsealed documents say El Bahnasawy first came in contact with the undercover FBI agent and told the agent he was seeking official approval of the planned attacks from an active ISIS branch based out of Pakistan. He told the agent “[t]hese Americans need an attack,” and that he wanted to “create the next 9/11.” El Bahnasawy communicated with the agent electronically and also introduced Haroon to the agent.
El Bahnasawy gathered materials to make bombs and reserved a cabin within driving distance of New York City to build the bombs and stage the attacks. Haroon, a U.S. citizen residing in Pakistan, allegedly had scheduled travel to New York City to assist with the attack. He traveled domestically in Pakistan to meet with explosives experts. Salic, a Philippine citizen, allegedly financially contributed to the attack.
El Bahnasawy was arrested on May 21 in New Jersey as he was traveling from Canada to conduct the attacks. Haroon was arrested in Pakistan in or around September 2016, and Salic was arrested in the Philippines in or around April 2017.
El Bahnasawy pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit acts of terrorism and provide material support to ISIS and will be sentenced in December. He could face life in prison.
The court also unsealed today the five-count Complaint charging Haroon, and the seven-count Complaint charging Salic, due to their alleged participation with El Bahnasawy in the planned attacks.
The Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement anticipate Haroon and Salic will be forced to travel to the U.S. and be tried in a U.S. court.
