New York – A 20-year-old Pakistani national, Shahzeb Jadoon, who was residing in Canada, has been arrested by U.S. authorities for plotting a terror attack in New York City. The attack, scheduled around October 7, aimed to target Jewish communities, with Jadoon allegedly planning to use automatic and semi-automatic weapons for a mass shooting. This plot was reportedly intended to be one of the largest attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Jadoon communicated his plans and intentions through encrypted messaging apps, although the specific applications used have not been disclosed by law enforcement. The suspect began discussing his support for ISIS and distributing propaganda through these platforms as early as November of the previous year. During these communications, Jadoon made statements indicating his intent to exploit significant Jewish dates, such as October 7, the anniversary of a Hamas attack on Israel, and October 11, Yom Kippur.
The investigation revealed that Jadoon was apprehended after interacting with undercover officers, during which he confirmed plans to carry out the attack in New York City. The ongoing scrutiny of encrypted messaging apps has been a concern for authorities, particularly following recent events where apps like Telegram have faced criticism and legal challenges over their role in facilitating illegal activities.
In related news, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was detained and questioned in France for four days last month. French authorities accused Telegram of being used for illicit activities and criticized the platform for not cooperating with investigations. Governments in various countries, including the UK, continue to push for measures that would compromise end-to-end encryption to enable police access to encrypted communications.
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