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FBI Arrests Egyptian National Abdullah Hassan for Planning Mass Casualty Attack on Israeli Consulate Amid Deportation Proceedings

Dec 20, 2024, 04:08 AM

The FBI has arrested Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, an 18-year-old Egyptian national and freshman at George Mason University in Virginia, for allegedly plotting a mass casualty attack on the Israeli consulate in New York. Hassan, who is currently in deportation proceedings, faces federal charges related to distributing information on explosives and weapons of mass destruction with the intent to murder internationally protected persons. The investigation began after a tip regarding Hassan's social media activity, which included posts revering Osama bin Laden and promoting violence against Jews. An undercover FBI informant engaged with Hassan, who allegedly provided detailed instructions on bomb-making, including the use of 30 mm ball bearings for shrapnel, and suggested targeting the Israeli consulate, describing it as a 'goldmine of targets.' Hassan proposed two methods for the attack: using an assault rifle or a suicide vest. He also instructed the informant on creating a martyrdom video and recommended livestreaming the attack to share with the ISIS media department. Hassan has been banned from the university campus, and George Mason University is taking steps to enhance campus safety and address student code of conduct violations as the criminal proceedings progress.