Terror suspect arrested in Quebec was plotting to attack Jews in New York

A Pakistani citizen has been arrested in Quebec as he was allegedly about to cross the border to carry out an ISIS terrorist attack targeting Jews in New York City.

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, was arrested in Ormstown, Que. on Wednesday afternoon after driving from Toronto. He also goes by the name Shahzeb Jadoon.

U.S. authorities said Friday he was plotting a mass shooting at a Jewish centre in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 in Israel.

“Khan was allegedly in the process of planning a deadly attack targeting Jewish citizens in the United States,” the RCMP said in a statement.

Although he was initially arrested on three terrorism charges, he was then re-arrested on a U.S. extradition warrant and is scheduled to appear in court in Montreal on Sept. 13.

U.S. officials identified Khan only as a Pakistani citizen residing in Canada. His immigration status remains unclear. The Canada Border Services Agency directed questions about the matter to the RCMP.

He told an undercover officer last month about a foiled “ISIS attack here in Toronto,” suggesting he was living in the city.

The case comes amid both a spike in antisemitism and a resurgence of ISIS.

“The news of threats to the Jewish community is alarming,” the RCMP said. “We will not tolerate any form of threats, harassment or violence targeting Jewish communities.”

“The RCMP continues to work in collaboration with our domestic and international partners to detect, investigate and disrupt criminal acts that are targeting Jewish Communities.”

According to an unsealed U.S. criminal complaint, Khan began expressing his support for ISIS on social media and messaging applications last November.

In exchanges with two undercover officers and an