New York man pleads guilty to plotting ISIS-inspired attack in Queens
Awais Chudhary, 22, allegedly plotted to commit attacks on targets in Queens and pledged his loyalty to ISIS and its leadership
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A New York City man who plotted a terrorist attack with a knife on behalf of the Islamic State terror group pleaded guilty in federal court Friday.
Awais Chudhary, 22, admitted to attempting to provide material support to ISIS in a Brooklyn courtroom, the Justice Department said.
He faces up to 20 years in prison.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Federal prosecutors said Chudhary, who was born in Pakistan, pledged his loyalty to the terror group in August 2019 after watching terrorist propaganda videos online. He began planning a knife or bomb attack on targets in Queens and sought guidance from ISIS supporters, authorities said.
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A masked Islamic State soldier poses holding the ISIS flag in 2015. A New York City man pleaded guilty Friday to attempting to provide the terror group with material support, the Justice Department said. (Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
He surveilled his intended targets and video recorded areas he wanted to attack, prosecutors said. In addition, he also sent a screenshot of a document from an ISIS propaganda magazine that included a diagram of the human body depicting where to stab victims with a knife.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}To commit the attacks, Chudhary ordered a number of items online, including tactical knife, a mask, gloves, and a cellphone chest and head strap to record the attack in an effort to inspire other lone wolves.
Chudhary allegedly told one undercover agent he wanted to use a knife for the attack "because that’s what he knows," but would be open to learning how to build a bomb if the undercover agent could teach him. That done, he would consider using a bomb at a "mini-bridge over a busy road with many cars," according to the Justice Department.