Canadian among 3 charged for 2016 terror plot on New York concerts, subways

A Canadian has pleaded guilty to charges of plotting terror attacks in New York City for the so-called Islamic State in the summer of 2016, U.S. prosecutors said Friday.

The planned attacks, which were thwarted by law enforcement, included detonating explosives in Manhattan’s Times Square and in the city’s subway, authorities said.

Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, a 19-year-old Canadian citizen from Mississauga, has pleaded guilty to charges of terrorism. The other two charged are Talha Haroon, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen living in Pakistan and Russell Salic, a 37-year-old Philippines citizen. The alleged plot would have targeted New York City in 2016 during the Islamic held month of Ramadan.

A statement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says that the planned attacks included detonating bombs in Times Square and the New York City Subway System as well as shooting civilians at specific concert venues.

WATCH: Ongoing coverage of terror attacks in Canada

2:09 Calgary police respond to Edmonton terror attack

• Calgary police respond to Edmonton terror attack
• Edmonton terror attack: Lone wolf attack
• RCMP, Edmonton police on social media response to terror attack
• 2 victims in Edmonton terror attacks released from hospital, 2 still in hospital
• Edmonton police list charges suspect in terror attack is under arrest for
• Edmonton police offer details on terror attack, say officer released from hospital
• Ralph Goodale says national terrorism threat level will not change despite Edmonton terror attacks
• Edmonton terror attack: What could this mean for B.C.?
• Edmonton mayor ‘shocked and saddened’ over terror attacks, urges calm

Previous Video

Next Video

El Bahnasawy has been in custody since May, 2016 and has pled guilty to terrorism-related offenses. Haroon and Salic have been arrested outside the United States by foreign authorities, though the DOJ hopes to have these individuals extradited back to the United States for trial.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The Canadian suspect was arrested in late May of 2016 in New Jersey after travelling back to Canada from the United States in preparation for carrying out the terror attacks. Haroon was arrested in Pakistan and Salic was arrested in the Philippines almost a full year later.

The statement from the DOJ goes on to say that while in Canada during May, 2016, El Bahnasawy purchased “an array of bomb-making materials” to use in the attacks, including approximately 40 pounds of hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide is a primary ingredient in TATP (triacetone triperoxide), an explosive often used in improvised explosives. Furthermore, when El Bahnasawy was in Canada during this time, he also purchased batteries, Christmas lights, thermometers, and aluminum foil.

The FBI says they caught the trio using an undercover agent who convinced them that they were talking to another ISIS supporter.

WATCH: A 19-year-old Mississauga man has plead guilty to terrorism charges stemming from a plot to attack New York City. Ashley Molnar reports.

1:48 19-year-old Mississauga teen pleads guilty to terrorism charges in New York City terror plot

The DOJ statement says that the FBI and NYPD worked together to foil the plot before it came to fruition. An RCMP statement also states that the case was a collaboration between the RCMP and the FBI.

“Abdulrahman El-Bahnasawy is a Canadian citizen who was part of an international plot to commit terrorist attacks in the United States and the charges are a direct result of his involvement and role. At no time was the safety or security of the public at risk,” read the RCMP statement.

0:51 Oilers, Flames honour police officer who was a victim in Saturday’s terror attack

• Oilers, Flames honour police officer who was a victim in Saturday’s terror attack
• Edmonton terror attacks: who are the victims?
• Security adviser discusses Edmonton terror attack
• Talking to kids about Edmonton terror attacks
• Is Canada doing enough to guard against terror attacks?
• Edmonton rallies after terror attack
• Suspect arrested in Edmonton terror attack
• Vancouver reacts to terror attack
• Rally held in downtown Edmonton to condemn terror attacks
• How the Edmonton terror attacks unfolded
• Calgary police respond to Edmonton terror attack

Previous Video

Next Video

Global News also reached out to Global Affairs, which confirmed that Canadian officials are providing council to the “Canadian citizen” detained in the U.S.

“Canadian Officials are providing consular assistance to a Canadian citizen detained in New York City, United States. Due to the conditions of the Privacy Act, further information on this case cannot be disclosed,” read the statement.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale declined to be interviewed but said in a statement “the Government of Canada monitors all potential threats and has robust measures in place to address them.”

“Canada’s security and law enforcement agencies work closely with allies and key partners,” said Scott Bardsley, a spokesperson Minister Goodale. “When the security and intelligence community receives credible warnings about a specific threat, they work with the appropriate partners to appropriately respond to the threat.”