[SDNY] Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, a Canadian citizen; Talha Haroon, a U.S. citizen residing in Pakistan; and Russell Salic, a Philippine citizen were arrested for participating in an international plot to carry out terrorist attacks in New York City for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The complaints against the defendants were unsealed Oct. 6, 2017. Communicating through Internet messaging applications, these three men allegedly plotted to conduct bombings and shootings in heavily populated areas of New York City during the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan in 2016 in the name of ISIS (the "NYC Attacks").

El Bahnasawy purchased bomb-making materials and helped secure a cabin within driving distance of New York City to use for building the explosive devices and staging the NYC Attacks. Haroon allegedly made plans to travel from Pakistan to New York City to join El Bahnasawy in carrying out the attacks, and traveled within Pakistan to meet with explosives experts in furtherance of the plot. And as El Bahnasawy and Haroon prepared to execute the NYC Attacks, Salic allegedly wired money from the Philippines to the United States to help fund the terrorist operation. The planned attacks included detonating bombs in Times Square and the New York City subway system, and shooting civilians at specific concert venues.

Bahnasawy was sentenced to 40 years in prison for plotting to carry out the 2016 terrorist attacks in NYC on behalf of ISIS.