Feds reveal New York terror plot foiled in 2016

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Federal officials claim that they have stopped a plan to carry out terror attacks at several locations in New York City, including Times Square, concert venues, subway stations, and more.

A federal court on Friday unsealed indictments against three men in connection with the failed plot, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim. The men planned to carry out the attacks during summer 2016 in the name of ISIS, Kim said.

Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, 19, a Canadian citizen, bought bomb-making materials and secured a cabin near New York City where he intended to build the bomb and plan the attack, authorities said.

El Bahnasawy sent his plans to an undercover FBI agent posing as an Islamic extremist, authorities said. He allegedly sent an image of Times Square with the messages "We seriously need to car bomb Times Square. Look at these crowds of people!" and "Shoot up concerts cuz they kill a lot people... we just walk in with guns in our hands. That's how Paris guys did it."

Federal agents arrested El Bahnasawy in New Jersey after he arrived from Canada in May 2016. He has already pleaded guilty to terrorism offenses, federal prosecutors said, but his conviction was sealed while the probe continued.

In 2016, authorities in Pakistan arrested Talha Haroon, 19, a U.S. citizen who lives there, for allegedly plotting with El Bahnasawy. He is awaiting extradition to the United States.

Russell Salic, a citizen of the Philippines, was busted there in April and is awaiting extradition to the United States. The feds accuse him of financing the terror plot.

With the Associated Press