A 25-year-old man from Queens, Awais Chudhary, was sentenced to nine years in prison for plotting a terrorist attack on various locations in New York City in support of the Islamic State group, officials reported.
U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon imposed the sentence during a hearing, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Chudhary was convicted of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, an organization designated as a foreign terrorist group according to their statement.
Chudhary entered a guilty plea to the charges back in June.
Originally from Pakistan, Chudhary became radicalized after consuming violent content online for over 16 months, even as a teenager living in a strict Muslim household.
He expressed his allegiance to the former ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and began orchestrating plans for a knife or bomb attack on behalf of the group, according to law enforcement.
At 19, he aimed to target a Dunkin’ Donuts near his home in East Elmhurst, along with pedestrian bridges over the Grand Central Parkway, the Flushing Bay Promenade, and the World’s Fair Marina, as detailed in court documents.
Chudhary conducted several surveillance missions to these popular locales and recorded videos of his targeted areas, officials stated.
This radicalized individual sought advice from individuals he believed were associated with ISIS, asking for tips on which knife to use and how to evade law enforcement by eliminating “traces of fingerprints or DNA,” according to prosecutors.
Additionally, he shared a screenshot from an ISIS propaganda magazine showing a diagram with stabbing points on the human body.
To prepare for the potential attacks, Chudhary purchased items like a tactical knife, a mask, gloves, and a cellphone chest and head strap for recording purposes.
His arrest occurred when he attempted to retrieve these items from a locker of an online retailer in Queens.
Chudhary also contributed to recruiting English speakers for ISIS, collaborating with another convicted member to translate the group’s propaganda material into English, according to the authorities.
Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked, “Awais Chudhary pledged loyalty to a ruthless terrorist faction with the intent to kill Americans.” She highlighted that Chudhary’s sentence ensures he faces significant time behind bars while affirming that the Department of Justice remains vigilant against threats.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch expressed gratitude towards the justice system and investigators for averting the mass casualty incident.
“Chudhary’s commitment to a foreign terrorist organization, his recruitment efforts, and his plans for a mass knife assault in Queens were thwarted by law enforcement’s diligent work,” Tisch stated.
She further extended her thanks to the NYPD investigators and their partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their commitment and perseverance in this case.
with Post wires
