FBI thwarts New York City bombing plot

Three men wanted to attack subway system, Times Square

Federal authorities revealed Friday they had arrested and charged three men in connection with a 2016 plot to carry out bombings and shootings in crowded areas of New York City, then kept the court case under seal for more than a year as investigators worked the case.

The group, which wanted to attack Times Square and the New York City subway system, claimed to have been in touch with an Islamic State affiliate to obtain official sanction of the terror group, prosecutors said.

One of them, a U.S. citizen living in Pakistan, traveled around that country to meet with explosives experts, and another purchased bombmaking materials and secured a cabin within driving distance of New York City, the prosecutors said.

By that time, though, the group was unknowingly communicating with an undercover FBI agent, who was posing as an Islamic State supporter, authorities said.

Authorities arrested one man in May 2016, after he traveled to the United States to prepare for the attacks, and took the others into custody in Pakistan and the Philippines in September 2016 and April 2017.

Charged were Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, 19, a Canadian citizen; Talha Haroon, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen living in Pakistan; and Russell Salic, 37, a Philippine citizen.

Mr. El Bahnasawy was arrested in New Jersey in May and already has pleaded guilty to terrorism offenses. The other two were arrested in the countries in which they live and prosecutors are hoping to extradite them to theUnited States.

Prosecutors alleged the men plotted mass destruction during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. They wanted to carry out bombings and shootings in Times Square and the New York City subway system and shoot people at concerts, authorities said.

Mr. El Bahnasawy told the undercover FBI agent he wanted to “create the next 9/ 11,” and in May 2016, sent maps of the New York City subway system with plans for where explosives could be detonated, prosecutors alleged. He also asserted the group should put a car bomb in Times Square, prosecutors alleged.

In Pakistan, Mr. Haroon told the undercover FBI agent he planned to travel to the U.S. to join in the attacks and “cause great destruction,” and that he had been in touch with a branch of the Islamic State active in Pakistan.

“NY Needs to fall,” Mr. Haroon told the undercover agent. “It’s a must.”