Man arrested in Quebec over plot to attack NYC Jewish centre faces extradition hearing in February

A Pakistani man accused of planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting in New York is set to appear in a Quebec court for a U.S. extradition hearing next month. Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old man living near Toronto, is wanted by U.S. authorities to face trial for an alleged plot to attack a Jewish center in Brooklyn.

Khan, who was arrested near the U.S. border in Ormstown, Que., southwest of Montreal by the RCMP in September, appeared in Superior Court in Montreal on Friday morning. He remained silent in the prisoner box and nodded when the judge informed him that he would return for an extradition hearing on Feb. 20.

The FBI became aware of Khan in late 2023 after an informant raised concerns about his social media posts. An investigation revealed Khan’s alleged plan to form “a real offline cell” of ISIS supporters and kill “as many Jewish people as possible” around Oct. 7, 2024, the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel.

Court records show that Khan used encrypted messaging apps to communicate with undercover officers, instructing them to gather AR-style rifles, ammunition, hunting knives, and tactical gear for the planned attack in New York City. The FBI said that Khan faces one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Earlier this month, a senior FBI official referenced Khan’s alleged plot while discussing the investigation into a foiled plan set for October in New York City. Christopher Raia, the FBI’s deputy assistant director of counterterrorism, highlighted the agency’s success in disrupting multiple plots in the U.S. over the past year.

It was reported that Khan was in the process of seeking refugee status in Canada, although he wasn’t actually studying anywhere, according to his former landlord in Mississauga. Canadian immigration officials had not found any “risk indicators” before Khan’s arrival in 2023.

Khan’s lawyer, Gaétan Bourassa, based in Montreal, suggested that U.S. law enforcement may have lured Khan into committing the acts he’s accused of, hinting at possible entrapment. Bourassa stated that he is waiting to review more evidence in Khan’s case to better understand the situation.

The extradition hearing next month will determine whether Khan will be sent to the U.S. to stand trial for his alleged involvement in the ISIS-inspired plot. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.