What’s Described as ‘9/11-Style’ Terror Attack Thwarted by New York FBI Office
New York – The FBI has thwarted a “9/11-style” terror attack in New York. It’s been reported that 30-year-old Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a Kenyan native, has been indicted on six charges. Those include conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens, and supplying material to support a foreign terrorist organization.
Prosecutors said that Abdullah contacted a “senior al-Shabab commander,” the same one, reportedly, that was involved in the 2019 Nairobi hotel attack that left 21 people dead.
Abdullah attended flight school between 2017 and 2019 in the Philippines, where, prosecutors say, he “ultimately completing the tests necessary to obtain his pilot’s license.” They also said Abdullah did research on how to “hijack a commercial airliner, by gaining access to the cockpit,” and researched “information about the tallest building in a major U.S. city, and information about how to obtain a U.S. visa.”
Breaking! Cholo Abdi Abdullah, Kenyan man who "obtained pilot training in Philippines" plotted 9/11 style attack on behalf of al-Qaeda (prior to arrest). https://t.co/osl36N7QFj @SecurityJourno @ravindiren pic.twitter.com/w7OUA33xLf
— JC Rivera (@JCRivera03) December 16, 2020
FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney said, “He obtained a pilot’s license overseas, learning how to hijack an aircraft for the purpose of causing a mass-casualty incident within our borders.”
He continued, “Nearly 20 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, there are those who remain determined to conduct terror attacks against United States citizens. Abdullah, we allege, is one of them.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said, “This chilling callback to the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, is a stark reminder that terrorist groups like al-Shabab remain committed to killing U.S. citizens and attacking the United States.”
Assistant Attorney General of National Security John C. Demers said, “No matter where terrorists who plan to target Americans may be located, we will seek to identify them and bring them to justice.”
NBC reported, “He has been ordered detained pending trial and his attorney said they reserve the right to ask for bail in the future.”
US Day News reported that Abdullah is an important part of the Somalia-based al Shabaab terrorist group, which is reportedly connected to al Qaeda.
Abdullah is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years up to life in prison. The city planned for the attack was not named.
