The U.S. Justice Department
released the below information:
Acting Assistant Attorney
General for National Security Dana J. Boente, Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim
for the Southern District of New York, Assistant Director in Charge William F.
Sweeney Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Assistant Director in Charge
Danny Kennedy of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Special Agent in Charge
Calvin A. Shivers of the FBI’s Denver Field Office and Commissioner James P.
O’Neill of the NYPD, announced the Court’s unsealing of federal terrorism
charges against three men alleged to have plotted attacks on New York City
during the summer of 2016 in support of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham
(ISIS), which were thwarted by law enforcement.
All three men have been arrested, and one has pleaded guilty.
The defendants are:
Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, a 19-year-old Canadian citizen; Talha Haroon, a
19-year-old U.S. citizen residing in Pakistan; and Russell Salic, a 37-year-old
Philippine citizen.
Communicating
through Internet messaging applications, these three men allegedly plotted to
conduct bombings and shootings in heavily populated areas of New York City
during the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan in 2016, all in the name of ISIS (the
NYC Attacks). El Bahnasawy purchased
bomb-making materials and helped secure a cabin within driving distance of New
York City to use for building the explosive devices and staging the NYC
Attacks. Haroon allegedly made plans to
travel from Pakistan to New York City to join El Bahnasawy in carrying out the
attacks, and traveled within Pakistan to meet with explosives experts in
furtherance of the plot. And as El
Bahnasawy and Haroon prepared to execute the NYC Attacks, Salic allegedly wired
money from the Philippines to the United States to help fund the terrorist
operation.
The planned attacks included
detonating bombs in Times Square and the New York City subway system and
shooting civilians at specific concert venues.
Law enforcement – the FBI and
the NYPD – successfully thwarted this terrorist plot. An undercover FBI agent (the UC) convinced
the defendants that the UC was an ISIS supporter prepared to carry out the
attacks with them.
El Bahnasawy, who has been in
custody since he was arrested by the FBI in May 2016, pleaded guilty to
terrorism offenses and is awaiting sentencing.
Haroon and Salic have been
arrested in foreign countries by foreign authorities in connection with these
charges and it is the hope and expectation of this Office and U.S. law
enforcement that they will be extradited to the United States to face justice
in a United States court.
On May 21, 2016, El Bahnasawy
was arrested in New Jersey, after traveling to the United States from Canada in
preparation for carrying out the NYC Attacks.
Haroon was arrested in Pakistan in or about September 2016, and Salic
was arrested in the Philippines in or about April 2017. El Bahnasawy pleaded guilty on Oct. 13, 2016,
to a seven-count Superseding Information before U.S. District Judge Richard M.
Berman. Today, the Court unsealed the
Superseding Information and El Bahnasawy’s guilty plea, as well as the
Complaint and Indictment previously filed against El Bahnasawy.[1] The Court also unsealed today the five-count
Complaint charging Talha Haroon (the Haroon Complaint), and the seven-count
Complaint charging Russell Salic (the Salic Complaint), based on their alleged
participation with EL Bahnasawy in the plot to carry out the NYC Attacks.
According to the allegations
in the Haroon Complaint and the Salic Complaint[2]; the Complaint, Indictment,
and Superseding Information filed against El Bahnasawy; and the transcript of
El Bahnasawy’s guilty plea[3]:
In the spring of 2016, El
Bahnasawy and Haroon were plotting to carry out terrorist attacks in New York
City in support of ISIS during the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan (which ran
from approximately June 5 to July 5 in 2016).
In the course of their preparations, El Bahnasawy and Haroon
communicated, via electronic messaging applications accessible on cellphones,
with a certain individual posing as an ISIS supporter who was, unbeknownst to
them, the UC.
El Bahnasawy and Haroon
declared their allegiance to ISIS in electronic communications with the UC, and
expressed their intention of carrying out Paris- and Brussels-like terrorist
attacks on behalf of ISIS in New York City.
El Bahnasawy explained to the UC that he was in contact with an ISIS
affiliate about obtaining official sanction of the planned attacks by the
Khorasan Province, a branch of ISIS active in Pakistan. Haroon, who was based in Pakistan and was introduced
to the UC by El Bahnasawy, informed the UC that he was in contact with ISIS
associates within the Khorasan Province, and that “khurasan dawla [ISIS] has
o[u]r back.” El Bahnasawy stated to the
UC that “[t]hese Americans need an attack,” that he aspired to “create the next
9/11,” and that he planned to “com[e] to new York at around may 22” from
Canada. Haroon stated that he intended
to fly from Pakistan to New York City to carry out the NYC Attacks with El Bahnasawy,
and hoped to “cause great destruction to the filthy kuffars[4] by our
hands.”[5]
El Bahnasawy and Haroon
identified multiple locations and events in and around New York City as targets
of the planned attacks, including the New York City subway system, Times
Square, and certain concert venues. For
example, on May 1, 2016, El Bahnasawy sent the UC multiple images of maps of
the New York City subway system containing markings that depicted plans for
attacking the subway system, including by identifying the subway lines in which
explosives would be detonated as part of the NYC Attacks. On May 12, 2016, El Bahnasawy sent the UC an
image of Times Square and stated: “[W]e
seriously need a car bomb at times square. . Look at these crowds of
people!” That same day, El Bahnasawy
also expressed his desire to “shoot up concerts cuz they kill a lot of
people.” El Bahnasawy described the plan
to attack concerts as follows: “[W]e
just walk in with guns in our hands.
That’s how the Paris guys did it.”
On May 5, 2016, Haroon
expressed to the UC that the subway was a “perfect” target, that they should
shoot as many passengers on the train as possible, including “women or kids,”
and that “when we run out of bullets we let the vests go off.” That same day, Haroon discussed with the UC
the necessary supplies for making explosive devices for use in the NYC
Attacks. On May 9, 2016, Haroon stated
to the UC: “NY Needs to fall. It’s a must.”
During May 2016, El
Bahnasawy, while in Canada, purchased an array of bomb-making materials for use
in the NYC Attacks, including approximately 40 pounds of hydrogen peroxide (the
“Hydrogen Peroxide”) – which is a primary ingredient in TATP (triacetone
triperoxide), a powerful explosive commonly used in improvised explosive
devices. El Bahnasawy also purchased,
among other things, batteries, Christmas lights, thermometers, and aluminum
foil for use in constructing explosive devices to carry out the NYC Attacks.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, based
on Haroon’s communications with the UC, Haroon traveled to a certain city to
meet with an explosives expert for the purpose of obtaining additional
information to be used in building bombs for the planned NYC Attacks. Haroon advised that they would need “perming
cords” (i.e., detonator cords) for constructing the improvised explosive
devices, and conveyed his expectation that El Bahnasawy was acquiring “all
that’s needed.” Haroon repeatedly
expressed his commitment to travel to New York City as soon as feasible to
carry out the planned attacks in support of ISIS, and described the steps that
he had taken to renew the necessary travel documents to enable him to exit
Pakistan and travel to the United States for the purpose of carrying out the
NYC Attacks.
In early May 2016, El
Bahnasawy informed the UC that El Bahnasawy had been communicating with Salic –
who was known to El Bahnasawy as “Abu Khalid” and “the doctor” – about
providing additional funding for the NYC Attacks. EL Bahnasawy further informed the UC that
Salic was a trusted ISIS supporter who had provided funding in support of ISIS
on prior occasions. El Bahnasawy advised
that Salic would send approximately $500 to help fund the NYC Attacks, and that
the money sent by Salic would be used to acquire additional ammunition and
bomb-making materials for carrying out the attacks. El Bahnasawy informed the UC that he had sent
the UC’s account information to Salic so that Salic could transfer money to the
United States in support of the NYC Attacks, and El Bahnasawy provided the UC
with Salic’s contact information on an electronic messaging application, to
enable Salic to execute the planned money transfer.
Shortly thereafter, Salic,
using the alias Abu Khalid, began messaging with the UC. Salic informed the UC that he had been in
contact with El Bahnasawy, and that Salic was prepared to transfer money to the
United States to help fund the NYC Attacks.
Salic, who allegedly maintained an active pro-ISIS social media
presence, also conveyed that he had previously sent money to multiple other
countries in support of ISIS, and expressed his allegiance to ISIS. For example, on May 9, 2016, Salic informed
the UC that he was “desperate” to travel to Syria to join ISIS. Salic also expressed his belief that he could
safely send money to support the NYC Attacks from the Philippines, where he
claimed to be at the time, without attracting law enforcement scrutiny,
stating: “[I]ts not strict here.
Unli[k]e in Aus [Australia] or Uk [the United Kingdom] even liking FB
[Facebook] status will put[] u in jail . . . Terrorists from all over the world
usually come here as a breeding ground for terrorists . . . hahahaha . . . But
no worry here in Philippines. They dont care bout IS [ISIS]..loll[.] Only in
west.”
On May 11, 2016, Salic sent
approximately $423 from the Philippines to the UC to help fund the planned NYC
Attacks. Salic also informed the UC that
he intended to continue sending additional money in support of ISIS in the
future, stating: “In Sha Allah once we
have the blessings again we will distribute again.”
As described above, El
Bahnasawy acquired an array of bomb-making materials for use in carrying out
the NYC Attacks. In mid-May 2016, El
Bahnasawy shipped those bomb-making materials, including the Hydrogen Peroxide,
to the UC in the United States. El
Bahnasawy planned to build the explosive devices and prepare for the NYC
Attacks with Haroon and the UC at a rural cabin within driving distance of New
York City. EL Bahnasawy helped to secure
such a cabin for a period beginning in late May 2016, when he planned to arrive
in the New York City area. El Bahnasawy
informed the UC that the cabin would need to contain a refrigerator for
purposes of making the explosives, and that El Bahnasawy wanted to “practise
shooting” at the cabin site if it was not “too close to people.”
On May 12, 2016, when the UC
sent Salic a photograph of the Hydrogen Peroxide that El Bahnasawy had
purchased for use in the NYC Attacks, Salic reiterated his support for the
planned attacks, and Salic also conveyed that if he was unable to travel to Syria
to join ISIS, he might carry out an attack himself. During subsequent communications with the UC,
Salic described New York City as “the capital of Kufr [Kuffar],” and stated
that “[i]t would be a great pleasure if we can slaughter” people in New York
City. Salic further conveyed to the UC
that he would be praying to Allah for the success of the operation when the
planned attacks were imminent.
On May 20, 2016, Haroon
conveyed to the UC that Times Square was “a perfect spot to hit them,” and
suggested that the plan could include “[d]rive by or we surround the whole
street and trap them and kill as many as possible.” In the course of his communications with the
UC, Haroon also stated: “I wanna kill .
. . them in thousands”; and “we have to make a ocean out of their blood[.]
Leave no one standing.” Haroon
reiterated his intention of traveling to New York City, and discussed
attempting to execute the attacks as soon as Memorial Day (i.e., May 30, 2016),
stating that “that’s a day that will change history” and that the attacks “will
scar them for life knowing the soldiers of Allah are everywhere and ready.”
On May 21, 2016, El Bahnasawy
traveled from Canada to the New York City area, in preparation for staging and
ultimately carrying out the NYC Attacks with Haroon. In coordination with Canadian law
enforcement, U.S. law enforcement closely monitored El Bahnasawy’s travel to
the United States on May 21, 2016, and El Bahnasawy was arrested by the FBI
that night in Cranford, New Jersey.
Haroon was subsequently arrested in Pakistan based on the charges in the
Haroon Complaint, and Salic was subsequently arrested in the Philippines based
on the charges in the Salic Complaint.
* * *
The chart below reflects: (i)
the charges in the Superseding Information to which El Bahnasawy, 19, of
Mississauga, Canada, pled guilty; (ii) the charges in the Haroon Complaint
filed against Haroon, 19, a U.S. citizen residing in Pakistan; and (iii) the
charges in the Salic Complaint filed against Salic, 37, of the Philippines.
CHARGE
STATUTE
DEFENDANTS CHARGED (COUNT)
MAXIMUM PENALTY
Conspiracy to use weapons of
mass destruction
18 U.S.C. § 2332a
El Bahnasawy (1)
Haroon (1)
Salic (1)
Life in prison
Conspiracy to commit acts of
terrorism transcending national boundaries
18 U.S.C. § 2332b
El Bahnasawy (2)
Haroon (2)
Salic (2)
Life in prison
Conspiracy to bomb a place of
public use and public transportation system
18 U.S.C. § 2332f
El Bahnasawy (3)
Haroon (3)
Salic (3)
Life in prison
Conspiracy to provide
material support and resources to terrorists
18 U.S.C. § 2339A
El Bahnasawy (4)
Haroon (4)
Salic (4)
15 years in prison
Attempted provision and
provision of material support and resources to terrorists
18 U.S.C. § 2339A
El Bahnasawy (5)
Salic (5)
15 years in prison
Conspiracy to provide
material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization,
i.e., ISIS
18 U.S.C. § 2339B
El Bahnasawy (6)
Haroon (5)
Salic (6)
20 years in prison
Attempted provision and
provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist
organization, i.e., ISIS
18 U.S.C. § 2339B
El Bahnasawy (7)
Salic (7)
20 years in prison
The maximum potential
sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational
purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a
judge. The charges contained in the Haroon Complaint and the Salic Complaint
are merely accusations, and Haroon and Salic are presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty.
As noted above, El Bahnasawy
was arrested in New Jersey on May 21, 2016, and has remained in custody since
that date. On Oct. 13, 2016, El
Bahnasawy pled guilty to the seven-count Superseding Information. El Bahnasawy is scheduled to be sentenced on
Dec. 12. Haroon was arrested in
September 2016 in Pakistan in connection with the charges in the Haroon
Complaint, and proceedings for his extradition to the United States are
currently pending in Pakistan. Salic was
arrested in April 2017 in the Philippines in connection with the charges in the
Salic Complaint, and proceedings for his extradition to the United States are
currently pending in the Philippines.
Mr. Boente and Mr. Kim
praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force,
which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD,
and the FBI’s Los Angeles and Denver Field Offices. Mr. Kim also thanked the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Offices
in Canada, Pakistan, and the Philippines, the New York State Police, the
Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Counterterrorism
Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys
George D. Turner and Negar Tekeei of the Southern District of New York are in
charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Joshua
Champagne and Larry Schneider of the National Security Division’s
Counterterrorism Section.
[1] Certain portions of the
transcript of El Bahnasawy’s guilty plea remain sealed pursuant to judicial
order. Those portions have been redacted
from the version of the transcript unsealed today.
[2] As the introductory
phrase signifies, the entirety of the texts of the Haroon Complaint and the
Salic Complaint, and the descriptions of the allegations against Haroon and
Salic in those charging documents set forth herein, constitute only
allegations, and should be treated as allegations. El Bahnasawy has pled guilty, so as to him,
the descriptions are not merely allegations.
[3] The Complaint,
Indictment, and Superseding Information filed against El Bahnasawy refer to
Haroon as “CC-1” and to SALIC as “CC-2.”
The Haroon Complaint refers to El Bahnasawy as “CC-1” and to SALIC as
“CC-2.” The Salic Complaint refers to El
Bahnasawy as “CC-1” and to Haroon as “CC-2.”
[4] “Kuffar” generally means
“disbelievers.”
[5] Unless otherwise indicated,
the communications quoted herein have not been altered to correct for
grammatical, spelling, or other errors that exist in the original
communications.
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