Man Plotting Terrorist Attack In NYC For ISIS Arrested In Cranford: USDOJ

CRANFORD, NJ — A man arrested last year in New Jersey had plotted ISIS-inspired attacks on New York City subways and at concert venues, among other locations within the city, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, a 19-year-old Canadian citizen, was arrested in Cranford in May 2016. Authorities say he, along with two others, plotted to conduct bombings and shootings in "heavily populated" areas of New York City during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in 2016.

The planned attacks included detonating bombs in Times Square and the New York City subway system and shooting civilians at specific concert venues, according to the Department of Justice.

Authorities say Talha Haroon, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen residing in Pakistan, was arrested there in September 2016. Russell Salic, a 37-year-old Philippine citizen, was also arrested in his country in April 2017. All three have been charged in connection with the alleged terrorist plot.

According to the Justice Department, El Bahnasawy purchased bomb-making materials and helped get a cabin within driving distance of New York City to use for building the explosive devices and staging the 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, according to the Justice Department.

As El Bahnasawy and Haroon prepared to execute the New York City attacks, Salic wired money from the Philippines to the United States to help fund the plot, according to the Justice Department.

An undercover FBI agent who convinced the three men that he was an ISIS supporter prepared to carry out the attacks with them was able to obtain information leading to the charges, the Justice Department said.

El Bahnasawy, who has been in custody since he was arrested by the FBI in May 2016, pleaded guilty to terrorism offenses on Oct. 13, 2016 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12.

The Justice Department said it is hoping Haroon and Salic will be extradited to the United States.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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