Abdullah Azz al-Din Taha Muhammad Hassan, an Egyptian national residing in Virginia and facing deportation, has been apprehended and charged with plotting an attack against the Israeli consulate in New York City. Court documents reveal that Hassan allegedly furnished an undercover FBI source with bomb-making instructions and tactical plans for assaulting the consulate located in Manhattan. The arrest unfolded on Tuesday, as confirmed by the FBI. The specific charge leveled against Hassan is the dissemination of information pertaining to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction, with the intent of furthering a federal crime. This arrest highlights the ongoing vigilance required to combat threats of terrorism and underscores the collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies and the public in maintaining security.
The FBI’s New York office issued a statement assuring the Jewish community of its unwavering commitment to identifying, investigating, and disrupting potential threats. The bureau emphasized its utilization of all available resources to protect the community and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement, calling 911 in situations involving imminent violence or threats to life. This commitment reflects the ongoing vigilance required to combat terrorism and the importance of community engagement in maintaining safety and security. The FBI’s statement aims to build trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the public in the shared goal of preventing acts of violence.
Hassan initially attracted the FBI’s attention after the Fairfax County Police Department relayed information from a tipster who had expressed concerns about Hassan’s social media activity on X (formerly Twitter). The tipster characterized Hassan’s online presence as exhibiting “radical and terrorist-leaning behavior.” Federal prosecutors have disclosed that Hassan’s posts included expressions of admiration for the Islamic State terror group and other extremist figures. Beginning in August, Hassan initiated communication with an FBI confidential source, whom he believed he had successfully recruited to carry out a “mass casualty attack,” according to authorities. This interaction marked the beginning of the FBI’s active investigation into Hassan’s intentions and plans.
Over the course of several weeks, Hassan reportedly provided detailed instructions to the informant on bomb construction, weapons acquisition, and the creation of a “martyrdom video,” a common practice among terrorist organizations. In November, Hassan allegedly designated the Consulate General of Israel in New York as the intended target, asserting that an attack employing small arms would be more feasible and would provide a greater opportunity for him to be “martyred” by responding law enforcement. He allegedly viewed New York City as a “gold mine of targets” for a potential attack, showcasing a disturbingly calculated approach to planning violence. As the plot developed, Hassan reportedly advised the informant to book flights to countries lacking extradition treaties with the United States, potentially in anticipation of escaping prosecution after the planned attack. The planned attack itself involved two potential scenarios: murdering individuals within the consulate using an assault rifle or detonating an explosive vest amidst a group of targets, according to court documents.
Hassan’s plan also included a chilling request for the informant to livestream the attack, enabling him to witness the event in real time, as per the authorities. This desire to observe the violence firsthand underscores the disturbing nature of his intentions. The planned attack and the desire to witness it underscore the severity of the threat posed by Hassan and the importance of the FBI’s intervention. The details of Hassan’s plan, including the preferred methods of attack and the desire to watch it live, paint a disturbing picture of his intentions and the potential consequences had his plan not been thwarted.
In response to the foiled plot, Jonathan Harounoff, the international spokesperson for Israel’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, issued a resolute statement affirming Israel’s unwavering stance against terrorism. He declared that Israel “will not cower to terror,” nor “be silent in the face of hate and violence.” He further emphasized Israel’s commitment to pursuing justice and peace, referencing their continued efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Ofir Akunis, Israel’s consul general in New York, expressed gratitude to law enforcement for preventing the attack, characterizing it as an attack on the sovereign soil of Israel and highlighting the global nature of the threat posed by terrorism. He called for a united front among Western democracies to combat this shared threat, expressing confidence in their collective ability to prevail. These statements underscore the seriousness with which the international community views such threats and the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism.
