A Virginia resident, Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly transmitting bomb-making instructions and plotting an attack against the Israeli consulate in New York City.
The arrest stems from information gathered during a months-long investigation involving an undercover FBI informant, according to Court Watch.
The case began in May when local law enforcement identified an account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that expressed support for ISIS and extremist ideologies.
Posts from the account showed prior endorsement of ISIS operations and alignment with radical beliefs. An FBI informant initiated contact with Hassan through this platform, leading to discussions about their shared extremist objectives.
According to the criminal complaint, Hassan sent the informant the coordinates of the Israeli consulate in New York City in November.
He also provided explicit instructions on creating a “martyrdom” video, suggesting a declaration that blamed governments for violence in the Middle East and vowed retaliation.
The statement Hassan allegedly proposed included. “Your governments have been complicit in and utterly responsible for the deaths of millions of men, women, and children across al-Sham, Iraq, and our beloved Al Quds. Now has come the time for revenge. As you weaponize yourselves with your tanks and missiles and jets, we weaponize ourselves with the Wrath of Allah AZWJL upon you. However, you may try to find and kill us, Allah AZWJL will replace our fallen with more muwahideen, bent on eradicating the corruption that you have brought forth.”
The FBI claims Hassan shared internet links with the informant that included weapons procurement options, detailed bomb-construction guides, and advice on evading capture after carrying out an attack. These materials highlighted his intent and level of planning, according to investigators.
Hassan is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The office has declined to provide further comment on the case, as the investigation remains ongoing.
This arrest underscores the continued focus of federal law enforcement on preventing domestic terrorism and extremist-inspired violence, particularly threats to diplomatic entities and public safety.