A U.S. jury convicts Kenyan man for plotting 9/11-style terror attack on behalf of al-Shabab. He faces at least 20 years in prison.
Kenyan Convicted in al-Shabab 9/11-Style Terror Plot
A Kenyan man, Cholo Abdi Abdullah, was convicted on November 4, 2024, in a U.S. federal court for plotting a 9/11-style terrorist attack. A jury in Manhattan found him guilty on all six charges, including plans to hijack a commercial airplane and crash it into a U.S. building.
Abdullah, 34, now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. He will be sentenced in March 2025.
Years of Planning and Pilot Training
Prosecutors said Abdullah worked on the plan for four years. He joined the Somali militant group al-Shabab and began training in explosives and covert operations.
In 2017, he moved to the Philippines to train as a commercial pilot, nearly completing the program before his 2019 arrest on local charges. He was handed over to U.S. authorities in 2020.
Refused to Defend Himself in Court
During the trial, Abdullah represented himself, made no opening statement, and declined to question witnesses. Prosecutors said he refused to recognize the court’s legitimacy and chose to remain silent throughout the proceedings.
Standby attorneys assigned to assist him declined to comment on the outcome.
Targeting U.S. Skyscrapers
Abdullah allegedly searched for ways to breach cockpit doors and looked up the tallest building in a major U.S. city. His goal, prosecutors said, was to recreate a 9/11-style attack using a hijacked plane.
Al-Shabab’s Global Reach
Al-Shabab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S. since 2008. It seeks to create an Islamic state in Somalia and is responsible for attacks like the 2013 Westgate Mall siege in Kenya and the 2019 DusitD2 Hotel attack.
Kenya’s Role in the War on Terror
Kenya has been a key U.S. partner in counterterrorism, frequently targeted by al-Shabab. This conviction highlights the global threat posed by terror groups and the importance of international security cooperation.
The U.S. has invested in security programs in Kenya including training, intelligence sharing, and capacity building.
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